Disclaimer: Characters from the Harry Potter series are the property of J.K. Rowling, and various publishers: including but not limited to Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Warner Brothers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended by the writing of this story.
A/N: Well, here we go again! I hope you all enjoy it. But before I forget, I would like to thank Lord Ravenclaw for going over this chapter and finding most of the mistakes that usually make all of you nit-pickers nervous. Cheers!
Chapter Eleven
Uncovered Potential
It took him days to completely understand. Days to accept what had happened that night, when the meeting between the Children of the Night and the Custodians of Earth took place. But slowly he began to accept it, both the duty and the responsibility that came with it. After all, every one of his instincts had been telling him that a passive role as a simple ambassador would clearly not help him accomplish anything in the current situation.
To fulfill his purpose of bringing balance once again to this world he would need to hold a more decisive position. And that's exactly what he had acquired last night.
Adrastos and Anthea had gone on to explain, in more detail, the circumstances that brought about the need for previous Emissaries, and how each one of them did what was necessary, at their time, to achieve it. But he now understood that never had the planet been so conflicted, her inhabitants so restless. Violence and discord had spread quickly, tilting the scales of balance to cause segregation within communities, going out of control in the last centuries. And he was the answer, the solution and the catalyst of change.
He wondered briefly why he had ever wished for normalcy, when he had been gifted with uniqueness.
Slowly, the Council had passed, and at this very moment the results of that meeting were being carried out. The Sprites had begun to prepare themselves to once again walk freely within the magical community. They were planning for what was to come, and for what they would have to endure, both as individuals and as a people; preparing themselves to take a more active role once again as the Custodians of Nature, to be able to do as their ancestors had done before them, and once again take complete control over their role within the balance of life.
And they were joyous about it.
The vampires, on the other hand, were a distinctly different matter, both because of their leadership structure and the way their society worked. He planned to consolidate the community first before even thinking of asking anything of them that could jeopardize the precarious balance that now ruled. Starting slowly, and with Harry's help, they intended to bring the Clans together, one by one, dealing with the problems that arose as they presented themselves. They would start with Europe, which was the Clan that was closest to Voldemort, and thus more prone to suffer from his attentions and then they would move quickly over to the neighboring continental Clans, thus consolidating the Vampire Hierarchy, consisting of the oldest and largest Clans of the Vampire Nation.
For that reason Harry had told Inwær to convey his message to the other Clans, the other Leaders. To await for him and to have patience, for he could not yet promise his protection and he would not risk their lives until he could. This above all else had made the ancient vampire smile and solidified Harry's place as the Head of the Council within his heart as well as his mind. Inwær knew at that moment that whatever difficulties would lie ahead of the young Emissary, they would break upon him like water upon the strongest of stones.
He was glad that someone with such a strong spirit was there to help them, for those difficulties could break any other man and tarnish any other heart. He above all others knew of the darkness that was covering his people, and for once felt hopeful that they would be saved, that their magic could be restored before savage instinct and despair took hold.
Harry made another promise that night; that change would come swiftly.
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- o -
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It was a clear summer's morning; the sun shining over placid white clouds as the sounds of twittering birds, the breeze and leaves filtered across the air, creating a type of silence that could only be found in such a remote location. A silence that could only be created by nature when it was not disturbed by the modern mechanizations of humans; where nothing has been troubled or touched for decades, giving the environment time to erase any previous intrusion with the passing of the years.
It was peaceful in a way that complete silence could never hope to accomplish.
In fact, Harry Potter was the first to ever cross through these parts in almost two decades. The small cottage that stood hidden within the trees and foliage, now covered with ivy and flowers, was testament to this, for the Vampires of Europe have long lost the need to hide in the woods. The places that used to be their shelters for more than just sunlight still existed, hidden by their magic, should the need for their use arise once more.
These were the places that Harry was using and living in; moving from one to the other with the help of Emmanuel, who was his only vampiric companion since the meeting with the Sprites, given that Eadald now found himself busy arranging a complete gathering of his Clan. This was something that would surely take some time to complete, considering that every vampire in Europe would have to make their way to the underground location in France where the event would take place.
It was an altogether unique experience, but ever since the Council meeting when the heartbeat was once again felt by Harry, he had come to the decision of searching for its origin. He knew with every fiber of his being that a call was being answered, even if he neither remembered making such a call or the being that was now responding to it, however faint that response might be.
However, seeing as Harry was the only one who could feel the call and hear the weak palpitations of this heart proved to complicate the search, but the fact that he only heard its feeble beat once a day made it that much more intricate, that much more elusive. So it was that most of the directions were gathered by guesswork.
They traveled every night from one location to another, following the frail direction of a pulsing heart. Harry and Emmanuel made their way through wooded areas until they were close to the tri-border of Switzerland, France and Germany. It took them days to travel that far as they only moved locations once every night to the closest vampire residence, cautiously following the direction of the heartbeat but never moving too great a distance in fear that they might miss its origin.
Nevertheless, Harry had continued learning, with Asherah helping him in the mornings and Emmanuel in the evenings, even if the tasks that the vampire set him were often interrupted when the faint beat of the mysterious heart drew Harry's attention once more. In that event, they would quickly depart in the direction of the sound.
But at the moment these things were far from the young wizard's mind as he concentrated on himself and his immediate surroundings, knowing that Asherah was hovering somewhere in the vicinity, watching him, overseeing his progress. He had to admit, that under Ash's watchful eye every morning and through the early afternoon, he had improved his skills greatly; mastering everything that was taught to him with incredible ease, something that Ash told him had to do with his intuitive grasp of the Sprite essence that resided within him, which was helped along by his close link with nature herself.
Slowly he had developed this aspect of magic until he could now completely manipulate and influence the elements in his direct vicinity, or area of effect as Ash had explained, with ease. Here, thanks to the Sprite side of his being, his subconscious awareness would always fully know what was happening within it; this area of effect was determined by the individual and his or her affinity to nature.
"Usually," Asherah had explained to him this morning, "for us Sprites, our area of consequence is a sphere with our height as the minimum of its diameter; within this space we can control any of the elements or manipulate any of the currents of nature. You've seen us use it to hide ourselves, travel and communicate," she had explained before pausing and allowing herself to be covered in a sphere of pure white light, reminding him of the first time he had seen Anthea at Little Whinging's Park when they had showed him this new path.
Slowly, the whispered voice of Ash had brought him back from his thoughts as she started talking once more, the sphere still covering her, "This," she had said, her whispered voice reverberating in every inch of the woods that surrounded them, somewhat reminding him of the gentle swaying of a flame, "is the greatest of our abilities, complete control within ourselves and the constant flows of nature."
And as she had said this, the white sphere of light flashed once, and the next moment a gust of warm wind blew its way though the clearing, ruffling his hair even as the ground beneath his feet gave the impression of settling into a more comfortable position. Looking at the small being, he could not help but feel astonishment run though him, for he knew that that was but a small demonstration of what Sprites could do. He respected them all the more for it.
"However," Ash had continued, "it has been millennia since the last time that we have actively controlled the flows of nature. We merely guide them, so that the world could keep its natural course and at the same time our people would remain safe from persecution and the blind fear that has gripped the world. Just imagine what would happen if they knew that there were beings capable of orchestrating the natural destruction of any civilization by manipulating nature herself? Make everlasting storms and earthquakes that could split the very foundations of this planet?"
Shaking her head sadly, an expression that Harry had yet to see on the small features until that day, Ash continued, "It is because of that fear that we now hide ourselves. After all, as the times have passed the world has become less trusting and because of that, they did not see that instead of destroying, we were preserving nature; that instead of creating natural catastrophes, we were averting them; that when natural renewal was necessary, we were there to guide it so that lives were not lost."
And as he remembered what Asherah had told him that very morning, Harry could not help the sadness that overtook him at the thought of what humanity did because of its desire to control, its propensity to fear, and their ignorance in driving away all those that played a part in the continued existence of life on this planet. Now it was their pride and arrogance that kept things as they were, as their ancestors made it, not knowing the damage that they were causing in their ignorance.
Still, things had to change and the world would have to adjust, even if he had to teach every last one of them acceptance, show them trust or fight them for understanding.
As his thoughts grew heavier with the weight of expectation and the impossible task set before him, the sun set gently in the horizon and the stars soon illuminated his face, even if he appeared not to have noticed. He knew that he needed time, but it was something that he did not have, it was a luxury he could not afford, and because of this he grew pensive, searching for the best course of action, knowing that however improbable, a sudden intervention would be more beneficial then a long drawn out diplomatic path.
After all, he was used to take action when it was needed, and he feared that there was no other way but to do just that.
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- o -
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"You look preoccupied, my young friend," a light voice said as the shadows of the trees moved and revealed Emmanuel, who slowly walked to stand beside him, looking toward the horizon where the sun had disappeared no more then an hour before, "what troubles you this eve?"
Harry spared the heir a glance before turning his attention back toward the sky, his previous thoughts broken, "I am afraid," he said. It was a statement of fact, a proclamation that needed no more explanation, and even though it was not needed and Emmanuel did not ask for it, he continued, "I fear for what has happened, I fear for what will come, and I fear my role within the unfolding future," he finished, his voice distant.
"Then you are wiser then most, Harry Potter," Emmanuel told him gently, laying a hand on the young wizard's shoulder as both looked at the clear skies, "for you know what you fear, yet you do not allow it to control your actions. You simply accept them, acknowledge them, and continue on with your chosen path, something that many cannot attest to."
A serene silence spread between them as they listened to the sounds of the night, but it was soon broken as Harry turned his green gaze towards the elder for a moment before turning back towards the woods, his voice a mere whisper, "I do not know if you are correct about me, and more then the apprehension I hold of the future, I fear that you have placed your hopes in the wrong person."
"We have not," Emmanuel answered after a pause, his voice sure, "of that I can be certain."
Breathing out a harsh breath, Harry pulled himself to his feet and started walking until he reached the center of a clearing, knowing that the vampire had followed him. He looked at the moon and then turned his head over his shoulder, in the direction of the shadow where he knew Emmanuel was located, leaning against a tree, "How can you be so sure?"
"Simple," the light voice of the vampire heir drifted toward the center of the clearing, "because in our own way, we have seen your character, we have tested your heart and we have ascertained the nature of your soul," Emmanuel said and slowly left the shadows of the edge of the clearing, "remember what we are, Emissary, and look for that inside of yourself. Our blood flows though your veins; it is time you get acquainted with it. It is time you learn the most valuable lesson about us, Legatus," he stated as he drew his blood crystal, saying only one word as the interior of ruby-like gemstone seemed to liquefy and glow a dull red, "concentrate."
And without hesitation, Harry did as he was instructed. He concentrated on his beating heart, the feel of the blood flowing within his body and the gentle whisper of the magic contained within it. Slowly, even as his eyes once more expressed a deep awareness of his surroundings and the workings of life within this world, as they had done when he had first awakened after bonding with the vampires; Harry knew what Emmanuel had asked of him and why. And even as he concentrated, he lost himself inside the history that the vampire blood contained, and felt himself be absorbed by it, even as he assimilated this deep intuitive knowledge, unfathomable and constantly changing. It was as if some lost piece of a puzzle was finally found, and with that piece he gained something that had eluded him since he had started walking this path as Emissary; something that put all of his fears at ease and created hope deep within his heart.
It was understanding.
Acceptance of the world and its history and of his place within it; It was a perspective that even his bond with the Sprites had not revealed to him. The Sprites had shown him his place in the intricacies of nature, whereas through the vampires he now knew his position within the workings of the living, intelligent beings of the world. And it was an altogether invigorating experience.
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- o -
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That day marked a slight, yet deep transformation within Harry Potter. A primordial change where his fears, while still in existence, did not bother him as much as before; where he grew confident in himself as he understood his place within the societies of the world; where he finished accepting his fate and the difficult path that lay before him; His eyes now glowed brighter then ever before, both with an instinctive awareness of himself and his surroundings, and a deep, innate and irrefutable knowledge of the origins of life and his part within it.
He had a confidence that surpassed his years, even if it was subtle and unassuming. His closest friends would barely recognize him if not for the fact that he remained the same as he had always been, the only difference being that he had matured in a way that few have ever had to and even less would ever have to experience.
He no longer doubted himself as he found a balance between his heart and mind, logic and instinct, emotions and fears. Whereas before, the promise of a great leader, the shadow of what was to come, and the potential of what he could become, defined him. Now that promise was met, that shadow uncovered and that potential fulfilled, for Harry James Potter, the Earth's Emissary and Head of the New Worlds Council stood tall and unyielding as the leader everyone that knew him had expected he'd become one day. They say, after all, that youth is nothing if not resilient, and Harry was a testament to that.
Days gave way to nights as the moon and the sun continued their everlasting battle for the control of the skies, and as the heartbeat became clearer Harry laid out a course of advance, taking into account the direction of the feeling and the sound of the palpitations that called to him, which asked and answered, telling him to come. They made their way in an almost straight eastern route, crossing the borders of France into Germany where they stayed for no more then two days, passing the southern mountainous regions of the country, hiding in the forests and avoiding the city of Munich and the Bavarian region as best as they could before journeying into Austria, undetected by all but the creatures that roamed those lands.
Forests and woods were used as cover and shelter as they stayed in unused vampire caves, cottages and fortresses, jumping from one to the other as soon as a general direction of where the call was coming from was discovered.
They made their lodging in Austria close to Vienna, making this shelter one of the closest to a populated area. This, Emmanuel explained, was due to the Alps and the mountainous regions of the country, which made it a bit tricky to move around, and seeing as there were so few vampires in the area, since most of the ones that lived there did so within the cities, the uplands or close to the Danube River where even if it was populated they could still stay relatively isolated when the need arose.
Contact was severed so that their impromptu mission could not be known or jeopardized and only Emmanuel and Asherah knew their exact position at any given moment. Finding a place to stay at night was becoming more and more difficult as the entire European vampire community was moving as one, even if no one else seemed to notice. Still, they persevered and soon found themselves crossing the country of Hungary even as the days of summer were drawing to a close.
Compared to the mountains of Austria, the Hungarian terrain began to flatten out and they stayed in a wide open plain to the south-east of Budapest. Here, only the distances between settlements and the protections that hid the house they were staying in allowed them to go undisturbed. He wandered close to the property as Asherah instructed him, expanding his awareness beyond himself, even as time seemed to press in on him, reminding him of its existence.
September was closing in on him and Harry began to worry about his upcoming sixth year at Hogwarts. After all, in no more than four days, the Hogwarts Express would be departing from the notorious Platform Nine and Three Quarters, marking the start of a new year of schooling; one he was expected to be a part of, and one that he had no intention of missing. After all, there were many things that needed to be done and the sooner they were put into motion the better.
That day, as the clouds moved in on their location and the skies appeared to darken in preparation to let loose their clear tears, they took cover within another out of the way shelter, this one close to the border, near the region of Békés, knowing that the next few days would be trying ones.
Lightning arced across the clouds as thunder rumbled, and as if the skies had been pierced, rain poured down upon the lands, unashamed, bold, and without care, continuing the cycles of nature and renewal. Standing in the middle of it, soaked and with a smile on his face, Harry stretched out his arms in silent bliss, for the first time unabashedly enjoying something that had always brought him comfort and had always soothed him and his thoughts. He closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the heavens, letting himself become a part of the melody and harmony of nature; his marks surfaced and began to shine, throb, and pulse with the pitter patter of droplets hitting the ground, the leaves, and the puddles, even as the winds ruffled his damp hair and whipped at his robes, and the lightning itself took a clear rhythm.
However, he remembered that this was not the best moment to let loose as time moved ever against him. Taking a deep breath, he slowly took control of his immediate surroundings and a small breeze started twirling around him, deflecting the rain even as he walked towards the shelter; his robes and hair drying with each step as his skin warmed before opening the door and stepping inside, looking as if he had just come in from a sunny day.
"Ash," he called, both vocally and through the bond as he made a beeline toward the table where the food had been placed, searching for a snack. Not a moment later, a bright spark of light signaled the arrival of the small being who greeted him warmly before asking him the reason for calling her, especially since the day was almost over and night would soon take its place.
Making himself comfortable, Harry quickly asked Asherah to do the same. He had four days left so he needed to act quickly, "I need your help, my small friend," he went on to say without preamble, knowing that the day was at its end.
Flapping her wings slightly, Asherah looked at him intently for a few moments, her soft amber eyes shining under the flickering firelight, "you know that I would do anything I can to assist you, Harry," she stated, her head tilted slightly as she gave him a small smile, "what can I help you with?"
Standing up, Harry started pacing in front of the little being, starting to speak not a moment later, "Time is against me and I need to find the source of this call within the next few days," he explained, even if he knew she was already aware of this fact, "we stand at the border of Hungarian territory and I have a feeling that what I am searching for stands just beyond it," he paused, frowning slightly, "as soon as Emmanuel awakens I will ask him to take me to the center of the next country, so that I might know if my instincts are correct and what direction to take next."
Asherah flapped her wings and hovered, hearing what Harry said before deciding to ask a question, knowing that if left to his own thoughts, the young wizard would surely talk her into slumber, "what do you need of me then?"
Turning to look at her when she asked her question, Harry paused in his pacing and kneeled before the Sprite so that they were at the same level, "I need your help in searching for a friend tomorrow, at the earliest possible time. He lives there, and his assistance might prove to be invaluable."
"Who is this friend then, so that we might search for him when dawn breaks?" she asked readily.
Giving her a small smile of thanks, Harry spoke once more, sounding grateful as he stood up and held a hand so that she might stand in it, "We will head for Romania tonight, so that we might be within the core of the country before the heart beats once more. I need you to find Charlie Weasley with all due haste. I have a feeling that he could help me in my search."
Nodding in understanding, Asherah took flight and disappeared after telling him to wait for her call in the morning, and he smiled, knowing that he would not have to wait for long.
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- o -
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"Morning sunshine," Harry chimed in as he felt more then saw Emmanuel walk up to him a few hours later, "how was your slumber?" he asked, smirking slightly.
The heir just shook his head as he crossed beside the couch Harry was sitting in and plopped down in another one, "it was refreshing, to say the least."
"Good," Harry said and nodded before standing up, "then you wont mind if we set out immediately, right?" the young wizard asked, even if the question was said in such a way that an answer was not needed nor expected.
"And what is our destination?" Emmanuel asked, not looking perturbed at having to move once more.
Harry just looked up as he slipped his boots on, "I was hoping you would tell me. We need to be in the center of Romania, and soon," he remarked, tapping the runes on the boots to make them black.
"Then let us depart," the Elder said as he straightened out his clothes and walked in the direction of the door, Harry following a few steps behind, "but I will need you to help me in making the jump, since we don't have any points of arrival near the center of the country," he explained even as the door closed and locked behind them, "most of our shelters and dwellings in that area are close to the borders of the mountains, on the outside of the elevated plateaus, so we must make our own way," he continued, taking out his cruor crystal and gesturing at Harry to do the same, "to arrive at the heart of Romania, within the arms of the Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian Alps we must coordinate our efforts or we may very well find our end in its embrace." Emmanuel turned as they reached the clearing, looking more serious then Harry had ever seen him, "are you sure of this, Emissary?" he asked respectfully.
For his part, Harry just made eye contact with the vampire heir and nodded, speaking softly, "Yes, time is of the essence, my friend."
"Very well then," Emmanuel said, holding out his left arm, which Harry clasped immediately, as they both touched their crystals, "then let us be off, and may luck be with us." And as soon as these words were spoken, both closed their eyes and concentrated deeply, their crystals glowing in their hands; the blood inside of them seeming to move and throb in tandem with their own heartbeats.
Slowly and in what seemed like a fraction of a second, both of their crystals pulsed at the same time, their hearts beating as one, and without a sound or indication, vanished from sight.
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- o -
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Night, deeper and older welcomed them as the air pressed in on them due to the abrupt change in altitude. However, this did not affect them in the slightest, but for a mild inconvenience. The air was crisp and chilly and Harry quickly drew his cloak around himself as he watched his surroundings, feeling humbled by the great expanse of mountaintops and the vastness of the environment.
"Welcome to Transylvania, my friend," Emmanuel spoke, his words soft in the passing breeze, as he looked this way and that before starting to walk, searching for a spot to conduct that nights lessons, even as he continued talking, "We are well above 1,500 feet from sea level, as the plateau we are on at the moment is quite elevated." Finding a sheltered spot beneath some trees, the vampire heir quickly made himself comfortable, as if sitting on the ground in the middle of the night was the most normal thing in the world, "those over there," he pointed towards the south, "are the Transylvanian Alps, and starting from there," he said, pointing towards the mountain chains and gesturing towards the east, "are the Carpathian Mountains. All of these areas are nearly uninhabited by muggles, vampires, or wizards. The terrains are far too harsh and reclusive for our tastes, which is why many magical creatures roam them, undisrupted by us meddlesome beings. Still, it is always a beautiful sight."
And Harry couldn't agree more. The stars were clearly in display as the crisp wind caressed his face. Sitting down next to the vampire heir, Harry expanded his awareness even as Emmanuel started to explain more in-depth about how vampiric magic worked, and its relation with what wizards called Blood Magic. The two arts were truly one and the same, even if vampires had a much better understanding and control of it, not needing any of the methods that wizards used to call them forth. After all, the vampires' own magic was based in their blood.
Long moments passed as they became engrossed in the discussion, comparing the different aspects of magic and finding the pros and cons of each one, along with the responsibilities that each magical community had in the greater balance of the world.
Though, as Harry was about to ask Emmanuel about the blood protections that until recently covered his so-called home, and how the sacrifice his mother made could have called upon them, it happened; his senses tingled even before any sound reached his ears. A weak, yet still strong heartbeat reverberated within the plateau, even if he was the only one that could hear it. This time, however, the sound was as clear as spring water in his ears and the earth trembled because of its force.
"Did you feel that?" Harry asked, already on his feet, looking in one direction.
Emmanuel, for his part was already running towards the source of the tremor. "Yes, young one," he said, knowing that Harry was right at his toes, "and we must act quickly, while the reverberations in the ground can still give testament to its source."
Not looking back, and putting every once of strength and concentration they had into pinpointing the cause of the mild earthquake, Harry and Emmanuel ran at full speed, being nothing but a reflection within the air to anyone who might have seen them. Dashing towards the north-east, they dodged trees, bushes and rocks; they jumped streams and ignored everything else as they weaved in and out of the forests, hills, rocky slopes and treacherous terrain. All kinds of animals shot out of their way even before they got close, as if sensing them in advance. The wind parted before them and the ground grew smooth beneath their feet wherever it became an obstacle.
Soon, however, the aftershock of the mild earthquake faded and reverberations became less and less, until they stopped completely. Slowing down slightly, Harry and Emmanuel quickly came to a stop, not even looking tired. Their eyes firmly set on the expanse of mountains that stood before them.
"So whatever is calling you is somewhere near the center of the Carpathians," Emmanuel stated, his face still wearing a look of concentration, as if he was trying to discern a more specific location.
Harry just sighed, looking wearily at the immense mountains before him. He had three days to find whatever was calling to him, and even though they now knew an approximate location, he was slightly discouraged by the sight of the vastness of the place. Glancing towards the vampire heir, Harry nodded slightly, "definitely, whatever it is we are trying to find is within those mountains."
"Then let us find a place to rest, my friend, so that you might start your search with the suns blessing," Emmanuel suggested, taking his gaze away from the sight and biting his finger, letting a few drops of blood fall where they were standing, marking the location so that it could be easily found in the next few days. "When night dawns again tomorrow, I will come and assist you. In the meantime we must depart to the outer regions of the Alps, where lodging can be arranged."
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- o -
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Daylight broke through the mist filled morning as the fog that covered the surroundings was slowly pushed away by the first rays of sunshine. The sounds of awakening soon rang across the whole valley, where the small cottage they were staying in was located. Harry stretched luxuriously and slowly before sitting up and getting ready for the coming day.
When the sphere receded, leaving him in some comfortable jeans and shirt, he immediately noticed the awaiting Sprite sitting in the window sill, "Good morning, Harry," Asherah's whispered greeting rang across the room.
"Morning, Ash," he said a bit distractedly as he searched for his boots, which he quickly found beneath the bed, "did you find him?" he asked, even as he tied up the laces and fiddled with the buckles.
Asherah slowly hovered toward him and Harry soon noticed the side table was filled with fruits, "yes, and as soon as you are ready, we will take you to his location," she answered, settling in his shoulder as he immediately allowed the markings upon that side of his neck to surface subconsciously.
"That's brilliant!" he exclaimed, plucking some grapes and munching on this fruit or that, while he took a drink every now and then, "where did you find him?"
"He is residing in a dragon research facility within a valley in the Northern Carpathians," she answered, her voice slightly distant as her hand stayed touching the marks on his neck and her eyes remained closed, probably noting any changes or variations that might have happened since the last time she had checked on him this way, which was before the Council meeting, "it is near the borders of Romania, Hungary and Ukraine," she explained before pausing altogether and gasping, catching his complete attention as she abruptly removed her small hand from the markings.
Harry quickly scooped her up from his shoulder and into his hand, peering intently at the small Sprite, his face not even inches from hers, scrunched with worry at her closed eyed expression. He distinctly saw that her lips were moving as if she were trying to recall something, "are you alright, Ash?" he asked, startling her from her musings, whatever they might be.
Blinking rapidly, she nodded before straightening and hovering slightly, her whole countenance simply screaming confusion. She lifted her head and gave him a reassuring smile when she saw his worried expression, "Yes, Harry, I'm perfectly well, if not a tad confused," she admitted, "are you ready? Something came up that I should discuss with my mother and father," she told him after he nodded, "Then lets go, like you said, time is of the essence."
Harry nodded and kept his questions for when the answers could be given, and walked out the door. As soon as he reached the front of the cottage and stepped outside, some two dozen Sprites converged on him and started moving, getting ready to transport him. They spun faster and faster until they were mere blurs of light, and before he knew it, with a flash, he found himself standing in a completely different place.
"This is the closest spot that we can leave you in without being noticed," Asherah told him after he thanked the other Sprites for their help and they departed, "walk in that direction until you're out of the cover of the trees and keep walking across the left side of the valley, you shouldn't miss it," she directed, explaining that the reserve should be less the half a mile away, "and remember, Harry," she called out as he turned to leave, "there are wizards about," she told him before disappearing.
Turning around and walking through the trees, a gentle breeze ruffled his hair before his clothes seemed to meld together, changing color and shape until he was wearing a set of sweeping navy blue robes and cloak, of which he promptly pulled the hood up. The trees thinned and he finally stepped out onto a dirt path, from where he could see a long crooked building in the distance. And even as he walked closer and closer and some wearily noticed his presence, not one noticed what was happening beneath the hood of the cloak, where Harry's skin changed into a tanned color, his eyes became a deep blue and his hair shortened and turned a light chestnut.
Ignoring the suspicious looks he garnered, he slowly stepped into the long two stories high, scorched and crooked building, which looked to be made out of many, very different kinds of woods and logs; all held together by an obvious combination of metal bands and magic. He shook his head, wondering if wizards knew what a 90 degree angle was, or even cared for that matter.
As soon as he stepped into the building and what looked to be a common area, Harry lowered his hood, drawing the attention of a seasoned wizard with graying black hair and a firm build who had been writing something in a book or some kind of journal. "What can I do for ye, lad?" he asked in a deep set, inquiring, yet still kind voice.
"I'm looking for Charlie Weasley, sir," Harry stated respectfully, "would you be able to point me in his direction?"
"Aye," he older wizard said before heaving himself out of his chair, "I can do ye one better, and get him for ye," he said, before he disappeared into a doorway and started shouting Charlie's name.
Soon enough, and after some ten minutes of waiting as Harry amused himself with the sounds of shouting and grumbling coming from the closed door, said door opened once more to show the shortest of the Weasley brothers, looking thoroughly confused with the older wizard following behind. "That's him, ova there, laddie," the rough voice told the second older Weasley as he pointed in Harry's direction, who had once more placed his hood up.
"Thank you Mr. Towler," Charlie told the older wizard, who just waved him off and took his sit once more, taking his journal in hand and dipping his quill to continue writing. The older Weasley brother just walked up to him, his curious expression still in place.
Harry could have laughed at the whole situation, but he couldn't give himself away just yet, "Good morning, Mr. Weasley," he greeted, trying his hardest not to be recognized by the sound of his voice.
Charlie just narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to discern who the bloody hell was looking for him quite so early in the morning. The fact that the inflections in Harry's voice told the Weasley sibling that Harry knew him, only added to his curiosity. "I would say the same, but I don't seem to know who you are," was his response.
"If you would join me in a walk, I would not mind explaining," Harry told him as he gestured to the door.
Charlie nodded, even if his expression turned slightly weary and his hands moved toward his pockets and surely close to his wand. Harry just walked out the door and gestured to the redhead to follow, not saying a word until they were out of earshot of the compound, knowing that Charlie had stayed a few steps behind him at all the time.
Pausing when he reached a spot where he knew they wouldn't be heard nor any of his features recognized, he stood sideways until Charlie reached him. Pushing his hood back slightly, Harry allowed his eyes to return to their normal bright green and the scar on his forehead to become visible, "Hiya, Charlie," he said with a crooked smile.
The fact that he didn't shout, gape or faint did great credit to the second Weasley son, even though he did seam to be immobilized. However, as soon as his true features were once again concealed and Charlie Weasley shook himself from his Potter-induced stupor, questions flowed from his lips quickly and effectively. Indeed, it took the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon to explain everything and procure the redheads aid in the upcoming search.
Having missed lunch however, their stomachs protested loudly to their wish of starting that search immediately.
To be continued…