Chapter 09
Mind Awash In the Sea Of Time
The next day Harry woke up in his own bed. Thanks to the gizmo the Doctor had fetched for him he had a way for himself, and others, to get to and from his apartment instantly. This meant that he could keep an eye on Carla and keep up his timetable at school. The most difficult thing about school that year was the homework. Writing it up was a pain in the arse to say the least.
He turned over and froze.
"Urh..." he said.
A pair of luminous blue eyes opened and smiled at him. "Hello Jimmy," Carla said with a purr.
Harry looked more than a little surprised. She had not called him that in YEARS. Just then, her hand started to crawl up his leg heading for somewhere that he was sure would get Jack in a killing mood. "Urm Carla, what are you doing?"
"Not in the mood Jimmy, that's not like you." Carla said amusement in her eyes.
Harry frowned something was NOT right with this picture. This was odd, because normally he would say there was something very right about a hot brunette in his bed making a move on him. "I think you're forgetting some-THING," Harry said, the pitch of the last word rising when Carla's hand curled around his morning wood.
Carla chuckled sexily, while moving on top of his shocked form. It was at that point he realised she was as naked as a jaybird. Which was a mind numbing sight at the best of times, let alone when it was totally out of left field. "You're right Jimmy darling I am. I quite forgot to wake you up with your morning blow..."
"Carla," Harry said cutting her off, and trying like hell to refocus his amorous reactions.
He swapped positions on her causing her to smile. "Hungry Harry," she said, her legs wrapping around him.
Harry was having real trouble thinking straight. He could control himself with a degree of ability that was scary. However, he had been lacking in something he usually regularly enjoyed of late. He loved Carla in his own way and oh, she was bloody gorgeous, sexy and was obviously ready and willing. Two things stopped him, Jack was his friend, and as much as he teased, he would not do that. Secondly, something was not right at all. The last time she had called him Jimmy was the last time they had spent time together, which had been Venice just before meeting Jack. Shortly afterwards she fell in love and switched to calling him the more formal James. She was also acting the way she had when they were together. Quite a few mornings she had woken him up in that way, and frankly, he had loved that, the look in her eye was the same as that time too. After Jack had met her, that look had changed. Jumping from one, ignoring two and landing on Four Harry suddenly got a clue. He got up, covering himself with a sheet.
Carla frowned at him; "Really not in the mood," she said sounding shocked. She sat up, causing Harry to throw her his sheet. She looked a little surprised by that action as well, "What's the matter Jimmy," she asked.
"Carla, you're not very well. You seem to have lost a bit of time my darling. So, I do apologise for this but," Harry lifted his hand, a flash of light later and Carla sank backwards onto his bed. Harry shook his head, walked to the wall and began to thump it rhythmically.
It really was oddly soothing.
-xXx-
"You alright Harry," Ginny asked, almost on top of Hermione as he sat down at the breakfast table. There was an almost wild look in his eye.
He laughed slightly and shook his head, "That would be an unqualified No!"
"What's wrong," Hermione said with worry.
Harry looked from side to side. "My patient is loosing time, The magical doohickey is putting her memories out of whack."
"Oh dear, what happened," Ginny asked looking slightly amused as if she could not quite see the problem.
"Venice was damn near replayed," he said with a worried look. "Being a teenager again is... hard!"
The two girls laughed at him. "It's not bloody funny. Jack would actually try to kill me if that had happened. Every Bloody time I travel my ... body clock resets." Harry said, "Its annoying is what it is. This time around though somehow its worse."
"Poor Harry it must be so... Hard" Ginny said with a smirk.
"Dangerous is what it is," Harry said, grabbing some coffee.
"How on earth would that be dangerous," Hermione asked.
Harry paused and looked at her. "I must maintain control," he said seriously. "There are side effects to the amount of magic of a certain type, I've performed. Without control, we are talking random emergence of that sort of magic. That could cause some problems by its self. Never mind the fact that if a wizard... erh... has control problems beyond a certain point and I mean control in a more general sense, though it's applicable here, we're talking back to accidental magic. Misfiring magic, explosions of jelly and custard... etc ... etc..."
"Oh," Hermione said, then frowned, "Just how much... of that ... magic, have you performed."
Harry smiled slightly, "More than my fair share I'm sure." he said, and then rushed his toast. "Eat Up ladies, we have a lot to cover today." he told them, got up and was off before they could make comment.
"Has Harry... done any Magic for you Hermione?" Ginny asked curiously. Wondering if she was over stepping the bounds of their friendship with the question but honestly, she just HAD to know.
"No," Hermione said forlornly. "He won't touch me with a bargepole at the moment."
"Why?"
"Ron," Hermione said with a scowl. "Talk about your wrong choices in life." then she winced, "Urh... sorry Ginny."
"Don't apologise to me. If you mean about insulting Ron with that apology I agree. If you mean about Harry's decision you should bare in mind those thoughts were before his, urm, travels. He has changed a lot since that time and I suspect that his attitudes have as well. Harry is no longer the happily ever after type of person. He's the, wham bam thank god for that man, type of guy now I'd say."
Hermione went quiet and nibbled her toast thoughtfully.
-xXx-
Harry tucked up the last of his girls looking over them in the make shift dorm he had created for them in the room of requirement. Soon he would have to lock the place up tightly and go back for Carla's evening dose of pure magic, which was helping to maintain her balance and give her body something to use for fighting. That was not all he was doing obviously. Her last pregnancy had weakened her terribly. Without advanced magical medical help, she would not go to term, and would likely die in any attempt to have children. He had not been around for either of the last two children and had not known about this. She certainly did not seem weak in any way at all but then that was Carla to a tee.
He had finished dumping a whole heck of a lot of information into his girls head. This took a fair bit of energy on his behalf. Especially since he had been trying to shield them from the pain as much as possible and 'check them out' just in case at the same time. Not everyone was ready for the information he had imparted, nor should everyone have it. Therefore, he was feeling a little ragged around the edges to say the least since he had just done it five separate times one after the other. However, they would wake up different, while remaining at their core the same people. The training he was giving them was different than he had done with Carla and Jack, though in truth Jack did not have half the training Carla had. He could not teach some things to Jack due to his lack of magical ability. He was without doubt a formidable man, but if Jack and Carla ever went to war, Carla would come out ahead.
Now his new girls, they were something else entirely. They would be as dangerous as Carla, but with an entirely different focus on their abilities. They would be highly capable operatives for a different area of expertise. Carla was a spy, these women would be, if they chose to take up his offer, investigative probably crime fighting in some fashion. Search and retrieve, steal or whatever, they certainly would not be some sort of female hit squad. However, if he wanted to go that way he could. He had picked up many various techniques in his 'other' life as he was starting to think of it. Nevertheless, going that way was too similar to his other life and he did not want that path. He was avoiding it for a reason and now forging his own path entirely. This is what the other him had wanted actually.
He was also going to have some damn fun along the way. Information trade was somewhat boring. Chasing down criminals was a lot less so. However, without doubt it had its own boring moments.
He walked out of the make shift dorm room and closed the door behind him. He had set up a sort of a waiting area and an office area leading up to the dorm. Each girl moving from one to the other to the final point, so he was now alone in his 'office' area. The girls would be out for the count until the next day in all likelihood. The last he had worked with had been Daphne so she would most likely be the last to wake up. It was the evening now and he had started in the morning. So they were fairly well paced apart. It did mean that they would miss breakfast but he was hopeful that they would be mobile by lunch. So no alarms would be raised as people often missed breakfast at the weekends.
He ran a hand down his face feeling amazingly tired. He was so tired in fact, that when he was grabbed from behind it took him a moment to stop his reaction at the familiar voice saying, "Got you."
"Figured it out have we," Harry asked, stilling any motion.
"Indeed I have," Bel said, her breath hot on his neck. "I've been trying all day to get in contact."
"Oh - you have something to report." he asked.
Bel chuckled, "Only that there is little to report. I was more interested in seeing if this would work."
"Oh, fair enough I suppose," Harry said with a tired smile.
"So I've read that book you told me about; from cover to cover - It was a fascinating read," she purred. "I found out something quite interesting as well. I expect you'd missed it," she added, her hand trailing around his body as she came to stand in front of him. There was a marked change in her appearance. Her eyes were made up and bright, Her hair had lustre and was styled and hanging down her back in a thick wave. Her face was adorned with make up, including some black lipstick that he had never seen a witch wear before Bel. Her face had some color to it, though it maintained its porcelain complexion. She was dressed in elegant, but oddly Gothic clothing that fitted her properly and much to Harry's mounting despair showed off her curves. Basically she looked very well and extremely attractive.
"What's that, by the way you look good."
"Thank you Potter," she said, and then she pressed up against him, her mouth by his ear, "It said we only need to maintain some contact. It didn't say that you had to be pressed bodily against me," she told him, moving back a sparkle in her eyes. "I expect you must have not realised... unless... You wanted to press against me of course," she said, sauntering around him her hand trailing a blazing path across his chest and then back. She stayed behind him for a moment.
"I expect I just miss read that section."
Bel smiled to herself, and worked her way back around to face him again, "I also read about this- little connection you talked about."
"Oh," Harry said. He could so not do with this after Carla had damn near humped him earlier. He was suffering from an overflow of hormones already. Having Bel touching him and looking like that, was playing merry havoc with his libido.
"Fascinating, almost amusing that it exists between us, of ALL people out there," she said a note of wry humour in her expression. She pushed him; Harry fell back and sat down hard on a chair. She had managed to remain in contact with him the entire time somehow. If he were not so damn tired there was no way she would have been able to pull that off. Then, she might be able to all things considered. "Considering how astoundingly rare it is. I mean in a study of a few thousand couples one borderline case was found and one confirmed no doubt about it case. Those are some amazing odds," she said her tone serious, her eyes were not.
"Yes they are," Harry remarked agreeing with her knowing full well where she was going with that statement.
"I wonder considering that, how you knew. It boggles the mind." she said, her eyes sparkling with something he had only seen a couple of times. Humour, she was poking fun at him and doing it teasingly and remarkably gently. No one would be able to weigh up the Bellatrix LeStrange of legend, with this playful woman in front of him right now. It was, precious. If he had half the experience he had, he would ruin it with anger. However, he had what he had and he knew what he was seeing. Bel was taking a risk and she would not do it again if he did something to ruin the moment. Tricky since his 'younger' self was screaming for blood even as another part of him screamed to rip off her dress. The last was actually the louder of the two. Oddly enough, he could not listen to that one either.
Harry smirked slightly. "Doesn't it just"
Her lips pursed, sexily, and in thought. "I can think of a few ways that might happen," she said looking up with fake thoughtful expression. This had the effect of pushing her bust dangerously against her corset.
Harry dragged his gaze upwards. "Oh, I'm positively enthralled to find out what they could be." he said, his voice purring slightly. Nevertheless, that was part of the damn spell. It drove intimacy sky high, enhanced the sexual tension of the moment and considering he had a vivid memory in his head of Bel in full flow; well, it was getting to him quite a bit. His voice also had the effect of taking out some of the sarcasm and making it sound more like a challenge.
Her eyes shone as she looked down and into his eyes. "There's only really one actually that makes any sense. Of course, you could be a seer, but you do not act like one. So that is out, leaving, in truth one thing."
"What's that Bel?"
She kicked his legs together, "Leg's together a bit Potter."
Harry smirked, "I can't really do that right now."
Her smile curled into a predatory version of itself. She made do though, straddled his legs, and sat on his lap facing him, eye to eye and their breath on each other's faces. She upped that by leaning in, her lips mere millimetres from his. "At some point we had sex," she said her voice molten.
Harry's hands found themselves on her hips, "That's quite a jump. I think you would remember if we'd had sex."
Her breathing was a little ragged as she said, "I'm sure I would." They paused, the intimacy going space bound. She backed off just slightly so they could focus on each other properly as she said. "Obviously it hasn't happened yet."
Harry looked and felt more than a little surprised.
"Ah," she said with a triumphant grin. "I knew it." her eyes sultry.
"You know nothing... yet" Harry said his eyes reflecting her desire.
"Is that an offer Potter," she breathed, leaning in her hands heading south. "Oh, once again your body gives you away." her pupils were dilated again and her breasts were heaving with repressed passion.
"Bel"
"We're not going to fuck Potter, not today," she said, her hands doing wonderful things to him. His fly slowly being teased open. "When you look at me, and I see only lust then we'll do the deed," her eyes fluttered closed a small smile on her face as she wrapped slender hands around his shaft. "But that's not to say we can't - Play," she snapped her attention backwards.
"What is it," he asked.
"Cissy is calling me," she said, sounding a little annoyed to say the least.
"You have to go before she finds you missing." Harry said his voice a growl of frustration.
She got up, her hand trailing down his arm as she backed away, then just as they were to part she smiled wickedly, in a way not normally associated with her, "Poor Poor Potter, all upstanding and no one to salute."
Harry laughed slightly, "Be gone woman."
Her eyes flashed with sexual desire, and she knelt in front of him.
"What the...Ohh fuck," Harry said, as she darted forward her mouth wrapping around his shaft and her head sinking down. Harry got a shocked but pleased look on his face then she pulled off him with a noisy slurp and then she was gone. Leaving Harry a horny mess, He banged his head back against the chair, he was really starting to come to realise the power of banging his head against something solid.
-xXx-
It was with a sense of trepidation that Harry slipped back into his apartment a short while later. He had set up the transporter like device to put him into his elevator. Well it was not so much for him for others who would use the device. It would allow him an extra level of security seeing as though the transporter pretty much ignored most of it. He walked into his lounge, to see his huge plasma screen was on and tuned to some god-awful chick flick.
He walked further into the room to find Carla was sleeping peacefully on his couch. Luckily, he had managed to get her dressed earlier, she was still wearing the sweat top, and trousers he had put on her. Normally he would have transfigured what she was wearing, but since she had not been wearing a stitch of clothing that had not been an option.
He walked around so he was beside her and went to his knees looking at her with a soft expression on his face. Her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled at him. He tensed slightly wondering what he was going to face this time. "James... Sorry, Harry" she said.
"Hiya Carla," he said relaxing slightly. Obviously, she was at least up to date this time. "You've had us worried. Urh... why did you get up?" he asked. However, more importantly he wanted to know HOW.
"Hmm, don't think I didn't recognise a James Stunner when I woke up urh, heh, young man." she said her eyes twinkling with mirth. However, they then became a little worried. "What's wrong with me," she asked.
Harry smiled at her she always was smart. She had figured out something was amiss and unless he missed his guess it had not been the first time it had happened. He reached out and laid a hand on her stomach. His meaning was clear to Carla who beamed in way that was rarely seen. "A baby," she enthused. Then became a little serious, "Oh dear, a baby."
Harry shook his head fondly. "You big Wally, What were you thinking?"
"I wanted a baby," she said her eyes luminous with unshed tears. "I know Jack so wants a baby too. We love being parents. I thought, well I did not think it would be so soon and that we would be retired and - that I would be okay."
"Well, you're not my love. You're very weak in there," he sat patting his hand that was still on her stomach. "It was a stupid risk my darling, especially with the Box in there too."
"That was unexpected to be sure," she said, not allowing her tears to fall, but the fear was in her voice, "What happened this time?"
"You, of all people, fainted. However, I would guess from what you said, and the way I know you. That wasn't the first time was it?"
She shook her head slightly. "What is it?"
Harry closed his eyes. "A baby girl, She's... she's feisty." he said smiling and looking at her. "She knows I'm here..." his eyes twinkled, "She's playing with my magic. She is VERY special Carla. But this risk..."
"Don't let Jack do something stupidly noble and terminate her," Carla said her eyes fierce in her conviction.
"I won't... As I said, she is special. Not only is she somewhat aware excessively early. She's like you Carla, she's..."
"A witch?" she said her smile becoming radiant again.
"I was going to say magical," Harry said softly.
Carla smiled at him. "Oh James," she laughed again, "Harry... It sort of suits you actually."
"Thank you."
"I want you to know something before …"
"Stop... right there, did you think I would let anything happen to you?" Harry said eyes glowing with power. "It's going to be hard, for you, but using some tricks..."
"You've picked up," she inserted mocking him lightly.
Harry smiled at her again, "As you say. I think I can get you both through this."
Carla nodded, a smile gracing her face, "So what's the cost."
"There's always a cost hey Carla," Harry asked.
"Usually."
"You're going to be in bed from now till you give birth and there is just NO way it's going to be a normal birth. C section most likely. That bit, I cannot help with. Everyday, twice I day I am going to donate some magic. It will help you fight; help you be stronger than you really are. Your body will use it to keep you going. However, Carla, because of the Box there are side effects. Have already been side effects."
"Sounds bad"
"Could be... Your mind is ... unchained a bit from time. Earlier you were in the full flush of our, relationship."
"Oh," she said with a chuckle. "Good job Jack's not here- he wasn't here was he?"
"No, he is doing the job."
"How long have I been out," she asked.
"It's Saturday night. He left early though to get a jump on it. He doesn't want to be away from you for long, who could blame him."
Carla smiled. "I love Jack," she said.
"I know my darling I know."
She looked him intently in the eye. "I love you too," she said.
"I love you as well." Harry said looking away.
"No Jimmy, look at me."
Harry looked at her in surprise. Hearing her say it when her mind was in memory melt down was something but when she was with it, that was something else entirely.
"Don't be so shocked. You will always be MY Jimmy. I want you to look me in the eye, Let me see those beautiful eyes of yours." she said her tone soft. "I've always seen them you know." she added, sounding like she was drifting a bit. "It's what first attracted me to you. The first time I looked into your eyes I fell in love with you Jimmy. Everyone always commented on how bright blue your eyes were... Yet I only ever saw those beautiful emerald pools." she said wistfully. "I do love my husband Jimmy, he owns my heart and soul," she said her tone hypnotically intense. "But so do you."
Harry looked at her raw emotion coursing through his eyes. "Janey... I... Love you as well, you know that right?"
"Oh, James Black's famous control just cracked," Carla said with a smile, "So I know how you feel."
Harry frowned then realised what he had said, "Oh god... Carla, I..." he trailed off shocked.
"You've not called me that in a LONG time Jimmy."
"It's the night for old pet names," He said softly and then laughed.
"This isn't usually the time for laughing," she asked bemused.
"It's the little one, she's- ha, she's tickling me." Harry said a shining smile on his face.
"My beautiful baby girl," Carla said with a soft smile that still lit up her face. Her eyes though were fixed on Harry's eyes. "You know if I weren't a Married woman. I'd be kissing you about now." she put forth.
He looked at her with a lidded gaze, "If you weren't a Married woman I'd be kissing you back."
"Then for just a moment... let's forget I am." Carla said her eyes smoky.
Harry looked at her for a long moment then leaned forward and their lips met in an oddly chaste kiss for passion it managed to convey. Harry pulled back, "Don't stop Jimmy," she said, her breathing a little ragged and her eyes were molten.
Harry cracked a smile, and kissed her slightly again, but pulled back quickly, much to her disappointment. "We've been down this path before my darling," he said. "Damn you pregnant women and your funny hormones."
Carla glared at him, and then cracked up. "Sorry" she said once she had calmed a bit. "Every time this happens, it's just usually... You're the only other man that would happen with."
"Let's not tell Jack though... you didn't tell Jack about before did you?" Harry asked, slightly worried.
"Hmm, let me think how that would've gone down..." Carla said with a laugh. "No! I did not bloody tell him. I like to tease him but that is going a bit far considering, well I was quite insistent if I remember correctly."
"That's putting it mildly. You did however get your revenge quite nicely."
Carla looked at him quizzically.
"Don't remember huh," Harry said. "I walked 5 miles in the snow at midnight. To break into the local shop to get you bloody Chocolate Ice Cream and, yummy, Pickled Onions"
Carla let out a peal of laughter, "Oh yes now I remember."
"Then, when I got back you were out for the bloody count." Harry finished with a smile.
"Sorry about that."
"Par for the course around pregnant women," Harry said with a shrug.
"I expect you've been around a few."
"Quite a few," Harry replied with a smile.
"How did they deal with pregnancy when you're from?"
"The usual... You sneaky cow," Harry said stopping himself and laughing at her.
"Something didn't mesh about your story and I am a study of your eyes Jimmy. I am in love with those eyes and I can read them as if they were my lover. You can fool pretty much anyone Jimmy, but not this student of your eyes."
"I'm getting rusty," Harry said, "For you to get me to slip up like that."
"Yes, yes you are," Carla agreed. "So, how old are you really?"
"17, for real, I am 17 but there's this whole long convoluted story that puts quite a lot more life than that in my head."
Carla nodded. "Someday I want to hear that story."
"When you're not feeling quite so delicate," Harry said, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "You're drifting Carla... Get some sleep." Harry said. Her eyes were already asleep, as he had stunned her gently as he had kissed her. With that done, he focused, switched off his bracer, and poured raw power into her.
-xXx-
Harry snapped awake at the sound of a scream later that night. He tore out of his room and into Carla's stopping dead when he saw her.
"Mother fucking bastards!" she screamed, "Let me out so I can FUCKING kill you."
"Carla" Harry called to her.
She burst into angry tears, her controlled ripped apart. "GIVE MY BABY BACK!"
Harry looked stunned.
"GIVE MY JACKY GIVE HIM TO ME NOW!" she yelled, banging against some unseen walls.
Harry was horrified. "Carla... calm down darling and tell," he was quickly cut off by Carla.
"NOW!" she screamed, not even seeing him and dropping to her knees and sobbing. "Please god help me Jimmy," she whispered. Harry felt his heart break. He had never seen her lose it like this. Not ever, He knew she did not know he was there. The heart-felt plea he had just heard ripped him into pieces.
He held up a hand as she got up to rail against her unseen captors once more. A flash of light and she sank to the floor. With tears in his eyes at her display, he picked her up gently and laid her back into bed. Making sure, she stayed under this time. Frankly, she was showing remarkable resistance to his stunners as it was. This was probably a combination of the extra power he was feeding her as well as what was going on inside of her.
With suddenly cold hard eyes, he stalked into the living room and picked up the phone. He quickly dialled a number. It rang for a long time, and then it was picked up.
"James," Jack said sounding confused and worried.
"What the FUCK happened to my Godson," Harry said in a hard tone.
"What, what do you mean he's at school you know that."
"Not now, while I was away," Harry said his voice like ice.
There was silence at the other end of the phone.
"Who took him Jack, who took THEM? Because I will, fucking gut them, I will cut them and rip out their fucking heart and feast on it. And they will feel every single last bite." Harry said his tone still glacial.
On the other end of the phone, Jack was silent, and afraid, very, very afraid. Because James, or rather Harry, did not get angry like that, He was bad enough when he was ticked off, but angry... He shuddered. "It was a long time ago James." he said carefully. "I got them out. I blew the building when I left. I don't know WHO it was, but since nothing happened afterwards I believe I got them in the blast." Jack said his own voice now cold and somewhat satisfied.
Harry growled, "I'll find out," he promised. "But first you get that fucking contract done. Then I'm going to find who did this to my Ja... your Carla and I'm going to fucking make them pay, they will live in pain for the rest of their lives."
Jack was startled by the venom he was hearing obviously Harry was having a hard time of it.
"First I'll gut them then I will feed their entrails to..."
"Fucking Hell James this is an open line... enough already. We will find them and they will pay. We'll talk about it when I get back."
"Make that fast Jack. She's not in a good way."
"Is she..." Jack said his heart frozen.
"She won't die Jack, I promise you that. Nevertheless, she is going through the ringer, you need to be with her. Her mind is disconnecting along the time stream of her memories."
"I figured that much out, otherwise you'd not be asking about Juniors abduction..." Jack said with a sigh. "She... no WE really missed you during that." Jack said his tone tired with the memory of that hard time.
"I should've been there." Harry said his tone sad.
"I think we both know you had other, very important, things that had to be done. We understood that, I'm just saying that we missed you especially then." Jack told him. "Now look after my soul James, it's in your hands, I will be back tomorrow night at the latest. Because I'm going in tonight," Jack said his resolve firming.
"You be careful Jack," Harry said.
"Concern James," Jack asked with a smile in his voice.
"Yes," Harry said simply surprising Jack a little. "Now go do what you do so well, and call me, because you're going air Harry at that point."
"Thank you Harry," Jack said seriously, and then hung up.
Harry took a deep calming breath. Walked to his PC and tried to think where to start. Because who ever took his Godson had better be dead, because they would wish they were when Harry got to them otherwise. He may be 'reformed' but it was there, the warrior, inside of him.
He would kill them; eventually.