Chapter Ten:
Dreki Manor…
Reykjavík, Iceland…
June 2001…
There was three people waiting for them as they arrived at the estates; Adalstienn groaned while Cassander scowled. Everyone else knew that Finnur was undoubtly the third person; the van pulled up and everyone got out. The first one to greet them was a tall woman with dark grey hair; she was quite tall, near on par with Leifr. Her brilliant blue eyes studied each of them before a matronly smile appeared on her face.
"Cassander, Dreki-barn, it has been too long" the woman, Elín Grímsdóttir, said. She hugged the Blonde tightly. "I must say that I am quite honored to have you and your team here, Dreki".
"Thank you, Elín" Cassander said, "my team… this is Harry Potter, my second".
Harry gave a bow and a 'pleasure to meet you'.
"This is my Historian, Leifr Eiriksson" Cassander continued. Leifr bowed and kissed Elín's hand. "My Arithmacer, Alexei Nikolaevich Ryazanov… My Defense Master and Magizoologist, Daniel Hughes… My Transfiguration Mistress, Huang Xiao Xing and my Healer, Kobayashi Kaoru". Alexei, Daniel, Xiao Xing and Kaoru all greeted the proud woman with a bow.
"It is quite the honor" Elín said, "this is my son, Jón, and grandson, Finnur… you already know my Adalstienn".
"Of course they do, Amma" Adalstienn said, grinning. Elín looked at her elder grandson, exasperated; Adalstienn just gave her a cheeky grin.
Before any of family members could stop him, Finnur made a leap for Cassander; however, Cassander's team were ready. Harry yanked his Soul-Mate to the side and Alexei and Leifr, the two tallest stood in front of the two. Finnur glared but yelped as his grandmother dragged him back by his ear.
"What did I tell you, Finnur?" Elín questioned, ignoring the squirming of her younger.
"I just wanted to say hello" Finnur whined. Harry growled, clutching his Soul-Mate closer; Cassander easily wrapped his arms around Harry's waist.
"Then say hello like an adult! Not a child!" Elín scolded. Finnur dropped but shuffled to face Cassander, who scowled.
"Hello, Cassander" Finnur said. Harry knew that despite his grandmother's warning Finnur was still going to harass Cassander. Everyone felt a crackle in his power; Cassander pulled his face down to look at him.
"Mio amore, calmo te stesso... Sono il tuo, non suo" Cassander said, soothingly in Italian. Harry took a deep breath and felt his magick settle; he quickly glared at Finnur, who looked a little surprised.
"You are to stay away from my Soul-Mate" Harry growled, "if you don't… you answer to me". Finnur looked ready to protest but a cuff from his grandmother shushed him.
"Finnur will abide your rule, Lord Potter" Elín said, "won't you, Finnur".
"Yes" Finnur said.
"Yes, what?' Elín said.
"Yes, Lord Potter" Finnur answered.
"Excellent, perhaps we shall show our guests to their quarters, Mamma?" Jón said, stepping forward. He had the same dark hair and electric blue eyes at his mother and sons; he gave everyone a pleasant smile. "I'll have the elves put your things together, Lord Potter... Cassander".
"Thank you, Jón" Cassander said.
____________________
Harry was sitting in the library, brushing up on the legends and tales of Eirik Raude as well as the archaeological evidence. Leifr and Alexei had gone to the National Wizarding Archives. Kaoru had taken Daniel to the open air markets of Dómsalur af Eirik Raude; Xiao Xing and Cassander had gone with Adalstienn to Parliament for necessary permission to look for the tomb.
"Ah, Lord Potter… I was hoping to find you" spoke Elín, as she entered the library.
"Lady Grímsdóttir, I've been meaning to apologize for my rude behavior earlier" Harry said, standing. Elín waved her hand, sitting in a chair opposite him.
"Nothing to apologize for, dear" Elín said, "Finnur needs to be put into place. Unfortunately, he no longer listens to myself or my son; I fear we spoilt the boy". She looked at Harry, studying him. "I think I can see why you and Dreki are Soul-Mates".
"Huh?" Harry said.
"For one, you both have bad tempers" Elín said, with a laugh. "Another, you are the first I have ever seen to get past Dreki's defenses". Elín had look in her blue eyes; "you and he remind me of my Tolya and myself". She sighed then shook her head, shaking herself from memories from long ago. "To reminisce about the past is not why I've come… I came to lean you a hand, after Daniel Rideout, I am the most knowledgeable person about Eirik Raude".
"You sought the legendary Tomb?" Harry questioned, surprised.
"I'm not a famed explorer for nothing" Elín said, grinning. "Though Dan was the one that came close to truly finding it. It's a pity that he couldn't be here".
"What happened to him?" Harry inquired, "Daniel doesn't even seem to know".
"I suppose not" Elín said, "Dan was killed in an Avalanche in the north of Island. None of us know had hunted for Raude's tomb knew why he was in the North".
Harry nodded; Daniel had told that his great-uncle had been killed while trying to find the Tomb but how his great-uncle was killed was beyond him. His father, Matthew, didn't want to part that particular knowledge to his son. Harry looked at the text that he was reading. "Lady…"
"Oh, call me Elín… everyone does" Elín said, "our Icelandic Wizarding Nobility is not as hung up on our titles as the English".
"Then you must call me Harry" Harry said, "as I was saying, Elín… why was Eirik Raude buried here when he was exiled to Greenland in 982?"
"Eirik Raude was exiled only for three years to Greenland however, the man stayed on at Greenland" Elín answered, "after his death, many assumed that he had been banished for life. As to why he was buried in Iceland? Don't let the muggle legends of Erik the Red, fool you… Eirik was a very loved figured in Wizarding Iceland". Elín leaned back into her chair; "the muggle legends say that Eirik Raude was exiled for murder… that was not he case. He chose exile to keep safe his wife and children… at that time, Eirik Raude fought and defend Iceland against a Dark Lord. The Council of Lords decided to give Eirik three years for his exile to let them take care of the more radical factions that were calling for the death of Eirik and his family".
"Oh, so when he died… this Council of Lords transported his body back to Iceland for burial?" Harry surmised. Elín nodded.
"Eirik's youngest, Leifr, was in charge of his father's burial as his brothers were not in either Greenland or Iceland at the time of Eirik's demise" Elín replied. "Only he knew the exact location of Eirik's Tomb… to keep safe his father's body from descretion". Harry nodded; he and Elín continued discussing Eirik Raude and his legacy in both worlds.
_________________
Later that night, Harry and Cassander were in bed; Cassander going through some papers while Harry read some more on Eirik Raude. Bolt was asleep at the foot of their bed while Pheonix was asleep in Cassander's laps; the four Familiars appeared that afternoon from wherever they liked to disappear too. Humphrey and Qin were off with Xiao Xing and Daniel.
"Cassander?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever contemplated marriage?" Harry asked, looking at his Soulmate. Cassander blinked and looked at Harry; the younger Wizard looked a little red but had fixed Cassander with an emerald stare.
"Twice" Cassander replied, "the first was when I was sixteen… Hortencia and Dhmitrios had bethrothed me to a daughter of a friend of theirs. Abuelo and Pappoύs annulled it. They hadn't checked with the Head of the Families… thus it wasn't viable. The second was with Ignatius but that quickly ended when I realized the truth".
"So, you never contemplated marrying me?" Harry asked, a little hurt. Cassander quickly turned his head, blushing a deep scarlet; Harry blinked.
"I… I never contemplated because, well, I knew that…uh, I wanted to marry you" Cassander stuttered. Harry's face lit up and he pounced on the smaller Wizard. "Ai!" Cassander glared up at the beaming brunette; "you insane Brit! What did you do that for?"
"You want to marry me" Harry said, nuzzling Cassander's cheek then neck. The Blonde shivered as he felt Harry nibble on his neck; he tightened his hands on Harry's shoulders. He arched under Harry's careful administrations. Harry pulled back, staring down into Cassander's flushed face. "Then marry me… marry me after we find Raude's Tomb".
"What?" Cassander said, wide-eyed.
"Marry me" Harry repeated, "I know no other that I love more then you. I want no other then you… I could careless about your titles or your money… I just want you". Cassander felt the last defenses around his heart crumble and he pulled Harry down for a kiss; he pulled back, gazing up at him.
"Yes" Cassander said, "I'll marry you. Because I never cared about your titles either… you were always Harry to me". The younger man swooped down kissing Cassander happily. He pulled back, removed a necklace from around his neck; on it where three rings. Two were bands of white-gold; Harry sat back on his heels and pulled off the platinum Claddagh ring. Cassander sat up as Harry took his left hand and slipped the ring on so that it pointed outwards, indicating their engagement.
"This Claddagh Ring has been in the Potter family since the seventeenth century" Harry said, "each Potter son hands it to his bethrothed when they are to be wedded. My father gave it to my mother and I give it to you". Cassander looked at the ring and reached out cupping Harry's neck, smiling. Harry leaned in for a kiss.
The Black Estates…
Cannes, France…
June, 2001…
Remus was sitting in one of the many parlors of the Estates happily chatting with Bill Weasley and his wife, Fleur. The two with their daughter, Victorie, had come for a visit bringing with them Ron Weasley; the youngest son of the Weasley Family had just recently left England, wanting nothing more to do with the place that had attempted to imprison his best friend. The redhead was on his way to Romania to study Dragons as a part of his Mastery in Magizoology; he hoped to explore the world as Harry was currently doing.
"How are your studies going, Ron?" Remus asked, sipping on tea.
"Good… I'm really glad that I let Charlie convince me to attend University to obtain a mastery" Ron said, "especially after…"
Ron had applied for the Auror Academy and was on his way to being a high-ranking Auror until he had taken a cutting hex to his leg from one of his team mates during a routine training mission. Alastor Moody, who was the instructor at the Academy was not please; he all but threw that Auror trainee out of the Academy with refusals to allow him back in. Ron had been despondent; he didn't know what else to do with himself as he worked hard to get into the Auror Academy. Lucky for Ron, Charlie came through for him; he suggested that Ron should go to University. Ron could gain his Mastery in Defense and possible teach at Hogwarts or he could do something totally different then that. At that time, Ron had been eighteen but he did enter University; he enrolled in the Dál Riata University in Lochaber, Scotland. Ron became fascinated with Magizoology and entered in the Department for a Mastery; he was quick and very knowledge about Magickal creatures.
"I'm sure you'll do well, Ron" Bill said, "how's Harry doing, Remus?"
"Well… he and his Archaeological team are in Iceland at the moment" Remus replied. Bill hummed; he knew what the team was doing but kept quiet about it due to the number of Tomb Raiders that were hunting the Spirit Diamonds of Gwydion.
"I knew it!" came a happy crow; the quartet looked as Sirius sprinted into the room, babbling about grandchildren. He pulled Remus out of his chair and hugged the Werewolf close.
"Sirius! Sirius!" Remus said, squirming free. "What are you on about?" Sirius handed a letter to Remus, who looked at it.
"Read, read!" Sirius said, "read!"
Remus sighed and took the letter and skimmed the letter but stopped and read one part. "Sirius? Am I reading this correctly?" Remus said.
"Yes! Harry and Cassander are engaged!" Sirius said, gleefully. He scooped the startled Remus up and spun him around. "I get grandbabies!"
Ioannides Ancestral Estates…
Ioannina, Eprius, Greece…
June, 2001…
Reyes De la Vega sat on one of the many verandas of the Estates; he was enjoying a morning cup of tea with his foster son, Alejandro De la Cruz and his wife, Isabella. Lucian's daughter, Leda Pavlopoulos, was also sitting with him; her husband, Adonis, at her side.
"So where is Cassander at this moment, Don Reyes?" Adonis inquired, sipping on his tea. The couple had returned from their honeymoon; "we haven't heard much from him since he gave both Fernando and Christos sponsorships into the University of Mount Olympus".
"Iceland" Reyes replied, "that's where this expedition has lead him and the others".
"Speaking of others… how is Harry?" Isabella inquired, having been the only family member to meet the Brit. "Papá?" Alejandro, Leda and Adonis perked up; all three had been wanting to know about the young man that had charmed his way past Cassander's defenses and claimed his heart.
"Good, very good" Reyes said, "odd habit of provoking Cassander, though".
"Does he have a suicide wish?" Leda inquired, wincing. Provoking Cassander's temper was not the brightest thing to do; everyone in the family knew that.
"No… but I imagine he enjoys those spats" Reyes replied, "it's quite amusing to see him watch Cassander rant at him in Italian, Spanish and Greek then lean in and kiss him to shut Cassander up". Reyes laughed as he remembered witness that little event; Cassander had been deep red for the rest of the day, glowering angrily at Harry. Reyes was suddenly knocked forward a bit; Lucian was drapped over the tall Spaniard's back. "Luc, what are you doing?"
"Read, read!" Lucian said, happily. He all but shoved the piece of parchment into Reyes' face; Reyes pushed the paper down and reached for his glasses, ignoring Lucian's happy dancing behind him. He had long learned to live with Lucian's eccentricies; Leda was laughing at her father. Reyes briefly skimmed the letter; it was the standard letter from Cassander. Truthful and straight to the point; Reyes' eyes widened at one sentence in the letter. "See, see… so long I had hoped but now… My Grandbaby is getting married!"
Isabella, Alejandro and Adonis spat out their teas while Leda dropped hers. Lucian looked at the hacking trio and his daughter. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
Dreki
Reykjavík, Iceland…
June 2001…
Adalstienn had been so pleased to learn that his friend was no engaged; his little brother, Finnur, was sulking; he now knew that Cassander was truly beyond his grasp. Elín and Jón were also pleased with the news of the engagement; Kaoru and Xiao Xing were accepting money from Alexei and Leifr.
"You took bets!" Cassander shouted.
"Course we did" Xiao Xing replied, "we've all seen the way Harry looks at you. I mean, come on… the man looks like he wanted to eat you". The two blushed a heavy scarlet that sent everyone into gales of laughter; "Kaoru and I betted that Harry would propose a year after you two originally met. Alexei thought you would elope".
"I'm a romantic" Alexei said, "besides, I thought Sandy couldn't be bothered by doing any wedding preparations". Cassander gave the Arithmancer a glare; he just grinned back.
"Leifr didn't think that you would get married" Xiao Xing continued.
"And have Cassander's grandfathers kill me?" Harry said, "I like my life, even if you don't". Leifr laughed and propped his head on his hands, grinning.
"And Daniel thought…well, he didn't say what he thought just placed a bet" Xiao Xing said, looking curiously at her Áiren. He just smiled, leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"I thought nothing… what Cassander and Harry does is their business" Daniel replied, "so technically… I didn't lose; which is why I didn't give you any money". Cassander made to speak when the sounds of Owls caught their attentions.
"Hey, Harry, isn't that your Dad's owl, Archimedes?" Leifr asked. Harry sighed; Sirius had most definitely penned the letter. He only hoped that Remus was the one that did it. Cassander eyed the five owls; four he knew, one he didn't. The Eurasian Eagle-Owl belonged to Lucian and was named Zeus; the Northern White-faced Owl belonged to his Aunt Isabella and Uncle Alejandro and was named Ruidera. The Tawny Owl belonged to his Aunt Leda and Uncle Adonis and was named Thetis and finally the last owl, the Long-eared Owl, was his great-grandparents' owl, Numanita. The Great Grey Owl that sat there, Cassander didn't recognize. He accepted all letters, listening as the blue letter from Sirius and Remus burst open and their voices melted out; Sirius was demanding grandchild while saying hello to Cassander and the team. Remus was a little more sensible, asking when they planned to marry.
Cassander was thankful that his Aunts and Uncles were asking the same thing and if they could tell the rest of the family; according to Aunt Leda, they had been visiting when Cassander's news had been delivered. Lucian's letter was a little less coherent as he babbled on and on about wedding plans; Reyes was merely asking the same question as Remus. Cassander turned to his great-grandparents and noted the blue envelope and sighed. He lifted the table.
"Cassander Lucian Reyes Ioannides! What is this that I hear? You're getting married?!" Rafael De la Vega's voice boomed out of the letter causing everyone to jump.
Cassander eyed it, boredly.
Suddenly, it gave a mighty yelp and a female's voice boomed out. "Rafael Cesar De la Vega! You do not tell your grandson what to do!" Cassander smirked; ah, his Bisabuela. Almira De la Vega was not a woman to take things laying down; in fact, it was from her that Cassander had inherited his extremely bad temper. "Especially after you and I eloped! Now apologize!"
"Wait, is this the same great-grandfather that was the master Wardsman for King Alfonso XIII of Spain?" Leifr posed.
"I only have one great-grandfather named Rafael" Cassander said, "yes, Bisabuelo and Bisabuela eloped. Caused quite the controversy, especially since they were engaged to other people". Harry chuckled; he knew all about Rafael and Almira.
"Nieto, you ignore your grandfather… I can't tell you how happy that you found someone to settle down with" Almira said, "you be sure to bring Harry to visit us in Cádiz". The letter fluttered down.
"Wow, your great-grandmother sure is fiesty" Xiao Xing said.
Cassander gave them a smirk. "Where do you think I inherited my temper from?" Cassander inquired. The team froze and shivered which sent Harry, Adalstienn, Elín and Jón into laughter. Cassander reached for the last letter, wondering if maybe one of his other relatives had uncovered the truth and sent via a Mail Owl.
Harry looked at the envelope for a moment before turning away, brought into a conversation by Leifr and Adalstienn. Suddenly, Harry's head snapped back.
"Cassander, no!"
Cassander jerked, opening the envelope fully and was greeted with a hex. It struck him, throwing him backwards and onto the carpet; Harry leapt across the table with Kaoru at his side. Cassander gasped as blood gushed from his wound; Kaoru tried to heal it. Elín came rushing to his aide.
"It's not healing! Why isn't it healing?" Kaoru said, his hands slick with blood.
"Adalstienn! Healers!" Elín shouted, pressing her shawl to the wound. Adalstienn flew to the fireplace.
"It's a dark curse… one that the Death Eaters used in the War" Harry said, "it won't allow you to heal through Magick. Sandy". Cassander looked at Harry, the light
growing dim in his eyes. "No, stay with me, baby… you can do it".
"Yeah" Cassander gasped, he winced as he felt Elín press harder; Kaoru and Xiao Xing were also pressing towels to his wound. He heard the fireplace roar to life just as Mediwizards and Mediwitches rushed in; he looked at Harry before loosing all conciousness. Before he surrendered completely to the darkness, he heard Harry's wail of grief.
TBC
Author's Note: Betcha weren't expecting that, huh? I'll give anyone a virtual cookie if they knew who sent that (holds up cookie)
Translations:
Dreki (Icelandic): Dragon
Dreki-barn (Icelandic): Dragon-child
Amma (Icelandic): Grandmother
Mio amore, calmo te stesso… sono il tuo, non suo (Italian): My love, calm yourself… I am yours, not his
Mamma (Icelandic): Mother
Dómsalur af Eirik Raude (Icelandic): Courts of Erik the Red
Papá (Spanish): Dad
Bisabuelo (Spanish): Great-grandfather
Bisabuela (Spanish): Great-grandmother
Nieto (Spanish): Grandson