Masters of Death by enchanted nightingale
Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I only use them in my plot for fun.
Pair: Harry Potter/ Methos
Chapter 11
"This is it?" Methos asked.
They were all seated in a car, Penny's car. A nice red town car that was bigger on the inside. Harry and Methos sat in the back with Teddy while the married coupled were up front, the only witch in their group driving. Harry touched his lover's arm and pointed to exactly where the LeakyCauldron was.
"This here is the main entrance, well, the most popular at least, to Diagon Alley," the green eyed wizard said.
"It's a pub," the millennia old man said. "I've never seen that shop before."
"You do now," Nick told him.
"Hop down boys," Penny told them. "I'll go park and meet you at Ollivander's."
They all exited the car together and walked towards the LeakyCauldron and stepped inside.
Methos had a flash back inside. He felt like he had stepped back a couple of centuries.
"This is…" he trailed off.
"Yes," Nick agreed. "Charming." But he was sneering slightly.
Harry rolled his eyes. The pub was not busy. The usual clients were there. For the purpose of the trip Harry had placed a glamour on himself, Penny and Nick too. They had explained to Methos the deprecations of being seen would be enormous. How the Alchemist and his wife liked being thought dead.
"It's less of a hassle this way," Penny said. "Less people out to kill us and steal our Elixir."
"Less letters asking for help," Nick had added. "Being thought old and wise is not as cracked up as people think it is."
"And Harry here," Penny had turned to the youngest of the four, "owns some very powerful magical artefacts that people have been known to kill for. Better to be safe than sorry. Also, jealousy can be a bad thing. Many want to be young and beautiful forever."
"Fools," Methos had said. Immortality was nice, but the perks did not counteract the drawbacks completely.
So here they were, walking into an alley straight out of another time period and world. Methos took the sights and smells in, eyes wide as he saw blatant magic all around him.
"We can tour the place later," Nick reminded him as he made his way towards a shop with a stick of wood resting on a pillow, a wand Methos realized.
Harry was also curious about this. He had not been to Ollivander's much since the war ended and the wand maker reopened his shop. He did not have to, unlike many of his fellow witches and wizards, not when he had the Elder wand. The place looked much like the day he first stepped through the door, an eleven year old boy clueless about the world he was entering.
"Customers? How odd. I had not expected anyone today."
"We are not here for wands Garrick old friend," Nick told the wand maker. Harry dropped the glamour when inside the shop but he was not the first person the wand maker noticed. Garrick's attention was on the male Alchemist.
"Nick?" Ollivander blinked in surprise.
Harry noted that the man looked better than the last time he saw him. Then again he had just been rescued from the dungeons of Malfoy Manor, the place Voldemort used as his base, following a long stay there and being tortured by Voldemort himself. Ollivander saw Harry watching him studying him, and after he greeted Penny as well he approached Harry and drew the green eyed wizard in a hug.
"My boy," the old man said.
Harry patted back, recalling the man's previously frail state and seeing how he was now much stronger.
"There cannot be enough times for me to thank you," Garrick told Harry. "From the moment that Holly and Phoenix wand chose you I knew. Fawkes always chose great wizards."
"He's staying with me, Fawkes is," the last male Potter said.
"Really?" Ollivander said.
Penny and Nick confirmed this as well with nods.
"It was a shock," Harry admitted.
"Fawkes is a smart one," Garrick said. "He chose well." He released Harry and then he noticed Methos. "And who is this? I don't believe he's the owner of a wand, certainly not one I've made."
"I'm not a wizard," Methos said to the man with the oddly white eyes.
"Hm, but you are magical," Ollivander said. "You have to be to pass the doors to my shop young man."
"I'm not as young as I look," the Immortal said, ignoring the smiles on the faces of his companions.
Ollivander peered into Methos' eyes. "No, I dare say you are not. This is an odd kind of sorcery, but not a strange one. You are the fifth Immortal I have encountered in my life."
"Fifth?" Methos mused.
"One was a Roman soldier that helped when my family first stepped foot on this island. His 'children' were my family's apprentices, and he married one of my aunt's daughters. The second Immortal I met was one of Salazar Slytherin's sons, Septimus. An odd boy with an odd fate. He did not remain Immortal for long. He loved his wife dearly and when she died he took his own life to follow her. The third was a curious man, left an impression. He was from today's Norway. Brave man, bloodthirsty and driven by greed. He fell by Helga's sword and wand when he tried to take Hogwarts. Tal was his name and he was the reason wards were raised around the Castle. The fourth was a woman, a charming, impressive woman with a silver tongue. She was old, not in Immortal years. Apparently she gained her Immortality when she reached sixty years of age. She was being hunted down by the fifth Immortal I met. It was how I first saw a Quickening… " The man sighed. "Powerful the energy of life and death," he trailed off and faced his unexpected guests.
Harry's eyes bugged at the information. He had no idea about the things Ollivander said. He considered the man and how he had previously thought that the man was about Albus Dumbledore's age. Now he had the suspicion that this Ollivander was the same man that had reached the isle and set up shop since 382 B.C. or at least that man's son. He did not ask but another did.
"How old are you?" Methos asked.
"I was born the year Charlemagne (1) was," Garrick said with a smile. "My Grandfather opened this shop."
"You're still the oldest in this room," Nick mused to Methos.
"May I ask?" Garrick said.
Methos smiled. "I'm over three millennia old," he revealed that much but not outright admitted his over five thousand years of age. He did not have to. The number was still impressive and earned an awed look from the frail looking wand maker.
"One of the warriors of old," Garrick said. He noted his closeness to Harry. "Take care of Mister Potter. He is like a curious kitten, always getting into trouble."
Harry blushed but the knowing look in Ollivander's eyes made him swallow any protests.
"Alas, we are not here for social reasons," Nick told Garrick.
"But now we've met again we will keep contact," Penny added with her husband nodding at her side.
"Oh?" Ollivander asked.
"Do you remember Andromeda Tonks nee Black?" Harry asked.
"The daughter of Cygnus Black and Druella Black nee Rosier?" Garrick mused. "Vine, eight and a half inches long with Thestral hair. I remember her well, her daughter and grandson even better."
"She is suffering from the after-effects of prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus," Harry said.
The wand maker flinched. Then a grave look settled on his face. "She looked fine last time, when you brought Theodore for his wand."
"She's strong willed," the green eyed wizard said.
Garrick sighed. "I too suffered. My hands were nearly useless, bad thing for a wand maker that."
"But you recovered," Harry said.
"Me and Nick visited Andromeda," Penny said.
"Alchemy is not the solution for this witch," Nick insisted. "But the Druidic arts…" he trailed off.
"Bold of you," Garrick said.
"But necessary," Harry said. "She does not have long. Her nerves are suffering and making her body slowly shut down."
"I am a Druid," Ollivander admitted. "But my art lies with wood manipulation. I am a true wand maker but have no talent in anything but the creation of magical foci and artefacts."
Harry's face fell and Methos, who had meanwhile wound his arms around the green eyed wizard, placed pressure there offering comfort.
"However," Garrick said. "I might know someone who can help. Give me an hour and some privacy and I will see what I can do."
It was one of the few times Harry did not enjoy the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. He had the glamour back on and that was the reason the group hardly earned any attention from the witches and wizards that went about their usual lives. Methos did his best to distract him from his worry.
"I wish your first tour had been different," Harry told his lover when he finished giving the Immortal a first, rough tour of the Alley.
"How about we visit 'FlourishandBlots'?" Nick suggested.
Penny smiled, approving this with delight. "You are going to love this place," she told Methos. "We can snoop around a bit, buy a few books and perhaps, if we have time stop at the 'LeakyCauldron' for a while."
Methos nodded. "Come on Harry," he told his lover. "Lead the way."
Happy for the distraction Harry complied and for the next half an hour they lost themselves among the mountains of books that filled the bookstore. Methos had plenty of questions and he earnestly wanted answers. The green eyed wizard let himself be distracted and Nick and Penny were most helpful. They walked out of the bookstore with a couple of bags filled with books that had caught Methos' attention, most of them to help understand the new world that had been introduced to him, others in languages he had learned ages ago about history and biographies of wizards or chronicles. They even stopped at the 'LeakyCauldron' for a Butterbeer before they finally returned to Ollivander's shop.
Garrick had been waiting for them, his face relaxed.
"You are quite lucky Mister Potter," the wand maker told the green eyed wizard. "I found a Druid that deals with healing magic. Olia, my sister is skilled in the healing arts. It was tricky, contacting her, but I got through. Lest I bore you with details, let me just say that Olia agreed to see Mrs. Tonks. I will also need to be there, to help. Just set the places and time mister Potter. Keep in mind lad that I cannot promise anything…"
The relief on Harry's face was evident. "Seeing her is enough," the younger man said. "Thank you!"
Garrick had kept to his word. He came by the castle along with Olia, a woman just as wrinkled as the wand maker. Nick and Penny were very respectful and Harry and Methos copied their attitude. Harry led the two Druids to Andromeda's room. The witch had been told they would be coming. She was not hopeful but had not given up either.
"Let's see you girl," Olia told Andy.
Harry and the three immortals watched from the doorway as they Druids did their thing. They spoke in a language long dead as they chanted around Andromeda. The ill witch had not taken any medication as per Olia and Garrick's instructions. The male Ollivander had a rather supportive role while the female Druid made her diagnostics. Later they all gathered around the bed.
"Difficult, very difficult," Olia said. "A lot of damage was done. Cruciatus you said? Nasty curse that. I visited the Longbottom's you was nothing I could do for them, nasty business that," she turned to Andromeda. "Andromeda, you are one lucky witch." She turned to Nicolas and Perenelle. "Had you given her any of the elixir I would have been unable to do much. Alchemy and the Druidic arts don't mix well."
"Can you help her?" Harry asked. That was the only thing he needed to know.
Olia smiled. "Lucky woman indeed."
The green eyed wizard sagged with relief.
Teddy had been ecstatic to see Andromeda on her feet the next time he visited. His glee was shared by his godfather and Methos. The green eyed wizard loved this Black and family and hated seeing her waste away. Methos also felt affection for the formidable woman and was glad to see her get better. The two Druids had really worked magic on her. The damage had been repaired to the degree that Olia could. It was not much, but it had earned Andromeda roughly another decade of life. Penny and Nick had stuck around for another day but then had returned to their house, after extracting from Harry the promise to write. Life had started again for the family and they settled back to a semblance of normalcy. The worried looks towards Andromeda were not absent, the fear still gripped Harry. But he tried not to show it that much lest he got on the witch's temper. Teddy also shot his grandmother looks when she was not looking, as if afraid she would disappear and he would miss her. Andromeda acted as if she had never been ill and the men let her.
"Is that...?"
"Yes."
"But mice?"
"Ice mice, they are cold and make your teeth chatter."
"And this?" Methos held a lollipop up.
"Acid Pops, they can burn a hole in your tongue."
The Immortal hurriedly put the lollipop away and focused his attention elsewhere. "This?"
"Honey-Flavoured Toffees, which is self explanatory. Those are Liquorice Wands, Sugar-Spun Quills... oh! Chocolate frogs."
"These are not real frogs, right?" Methos asked.
Harry shook his head. "No, it's just a chocolate frog, charmed to have a single jump. The frogs come with a collectable famous witch or wizard trading card. We are so getting some. They beat Peppermint Cream Toads that are made of cream and hop around in your stomach once eaten." Harry gave a small shudder which was mirrored by his lover.
"I'm not that big a fan of chocolate."
"Whatever you don't eat teddy will."
"I swear that boy would breathe chocolate if he could," Methos muttered, making Harry snort.
"Like father like son," was all the green eyed wizard said. He looked around Honeydukes. "Oh! Fizzing Whizbees. You must try some of those!"
Methos sighed. "All these sweets… I'm glad I cannot get high blood sugar."
"Me neither," Harry replied excitedly before heading for the counter to pay for his purchases.
"THE BALLYCASTLE BATS SCORE!"
The crowd went wild even though they had expected that. The game was against the Chudley Cannons who had not gotten any better since the time Harry was at Hogwarts. Harry who had been used to playing found it an odd experience. Also a bit nostalgic as he watched the Seekers dive and swerve on their brooms. Methos was just amazed because of the brooms.
"I can't believe this," the Immortal kept muttering.
Harry grinned. "I used to be a Seeker."
"You were after that tiny gold ball?" Methos asked. His lover nodded. "Where you any good."
Harry smirked. "The Snitch is above the Cannons' goal post."
Methos blinked. Then he tried to see what Harry spotted and sure enough the green eyed wizard was correct even when the Seekers of the teams had not seen it.
"AND THEY'VE SPOTTED THE SNITCH!"
"Finally!" Harry said as the race was on.
Methos shook his head even as he gripped his seat when he saw the two brooms and their riders plummet down and hunt after the Snitch.
"You did this when you were a kid?"
"Since I was eleven years old," Harry confirmed.
"Madness…" Methos muttered.
"And swinging a sword around isn't?"
"WHAT AN AMAZING WRONSKY FEINT! FIVE HUNDREED TO EIGHTY! THE BALLYCASTLE BATS WIN!"
"Point proven," the Immortal said as one of the Seekers crashed while the other caught the Snitch.
"Wuss," Harry told him.
"You really think that after that I will ride a broom? The rider maybe but not a cleaning appliance."
Harry snickered.
"Duncan called," Methos told Harry as they were lounging in the sun room. Harry was sprawled near the Immortal, feet in Methos' lap with the older man rubbing away at the soles and toes. The wizard sighed and moaned in pleasure and contentment at the attention he received from Methos. The book he had been reading lay forgotten near him.
"Did he now?" Harry commented.
"Hm," Methos used his thumbs in just the right way, making his lover hum. "There's an Auction thing going on in Seacouver and he said a few good pieces are on sale. An item used to belong to him and he will try and retrieve it."
"Does that happen often?" Harry asked. "Immortals finding knick knacks that were theirs long ago in auctions?"
"Not that often but yes. Many items are displaced in wars, rebellions. Hidey holes get discovered and pillaged," Methos admitted. "After the twentieth century things got better, with banks and safety vaults."
"Huh! Makes me appreciate magic all the more," Harry said.
"Lucky wizards," Methos commented. "But yes, it occurs every now and then. I once found a writing set that belonged to me. It had my initials and everything. It's still in a museum in China though. And it's not worth the hassle of retrieving."
Harry smothered a smiled. For all his blustering that he was not attached to his things, Methos was quite possessive of his trinkets.
"Are you interested?"
Methos considered this. "It's a hassle."
"And?"
"Well, he got me all curious," the Immortal admitted. He released Harry's foot and the wizard turned his body around so that he now sat facing his lover. "It could be nothing. Chances that I find items I owned are way too slim."
"Are you worried about me?" Harry questioned. "Andy's better. Ollivander said so."
"You like it here."
"Well, yes. But it has also been two months. That's two months in one place and the visits to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade don't count. I feel stir crazy too."
"You know visiting Duncan won't be a simple visit," Methos warned. "That Scotsman finds himself in way too much trouble."
"He offers variety."
"One day he's going to lose his head."
"Better enjoy his company while he has it then," Harry commented, making Methos snort.
"Right. Shall I get tickets?"
"Nah… Let's use magical travel."
Methos chuckled. "What? Like flying carpets?"
"We can't; they were banned in the UK. No. I was thinking of the MTR, the Magical Transatlantic Railway. The only magical railway that crosses an ocean, underwater of course."
Harry's lover took the bait. "How soon can you get tickets?"
It turned out that Methos had been correct. While the ride to the States had been a novel and amusing experience the couple enjoyed together, the auction Duncan had invited them to had been nothing to write home about. Sure, there were excellent pieces and Harry bought a few rare tomes he found and a few vases but nothing else. The trinket Duncan had been after was a WW I radio and a few guns that had apparently belonged to long since dead friends. After that the couple had decided to stay for a bit more. Harry booked a hotel room and Methos did what he knew best and pestered Duncan to the best of his abilities.
It was how they reached the situation they were in now. The last male Potter was amused. Methos was still complaining about Harry not having gone with him to that show. The Immortal had had to take Duncan, who had been amused by the way the oldest Immortal had aced the history section but knew nothing about modern pop culture.
"Will you stop laughing? It was not that funny!" Methos said from the bathroom. He was towelling his hair dry.
Harry was on the bed, in his boxers and shaking his head, still laughing. "Nope! I like it when your ego takes a beat."
"I'm not that bad!"
A snort was Methos' answer, making the Immortal stalk out of the bathroom and loom over the bed and the green eyed man occupying it.
"Yes, you are love," Harry insisted. He stood and pressed against Methos. "But that's part of your charm. Now are you finished with your shower?"
"Yes, go ahead. Don't be long. Jo is expecting us at his bar tonight. Beers, salty pistachios and rock music."
Harry smiled. "You're the diva between us."
"Am not!"
Harry's laugher was Methos' response, one the Immortal was not just going to take. He stalked after his lover and joined Harry in his shower. The green eyed wizard was spluttering at first, but then Methos made him change his tune. The wizard had started soaping up when Methos joins him. At first Harry ignored the other man, thinking Methos just wanted to watch, that would not be the first time. But this time the Immortal had other plans. His calloused hands batted away Harry's hands. Slowly he started massaging the wizard's back, earning an approving moan from Harry. Then he moved his hands lower.
"Methos…" Harry muttered when he felt his lover's palms rest on his butt.
"You know just how to wind me up," the Immortal sighed as he squeezed the round globes, pressing his body to Harry's back. It still amazed him how much the wizard turned him on. He absently thought that Penny had been right about the perks of magic when he caught sight of the vial of lubricant potion they had left in the shower added to the one at the bedside.
"Methos… I thought Jo and Duncan were waiting for us…"
"Forget about them," Methos said as he nipped at the skin on the back of Harry's neck.
"Not the neck!" Harry moaned half heartedly.
Methos smirked at Harry's reaction. He continued riling Harry up. He knew just how to tease reactions out of the raven haired wizard until he had his lover needing him as much as Methos needed the younger man. And then he started preparing Harry. By the time he entered him Harry had been begging him for it. Methos had a sadistic streak. He had it reined most of the time but seeing Harry undone with lust, wanting to be taken and being denied was a big turn on for the Immortal. When he sets a pace it is rough, almost brutal but Harry loves it rough every now and then and Methos is always up for a bit of a rough play in the shower or in bed or even in the kitchen like they had one midweek morning. Harry's noises of pleasure filled the shower cubicle as Methos pounded inside his lover with abandon until he came inside the green eyed wizard. Not a selfish lover, not by a long shot. So he helped support a still dizzy from pleasure Harry against the shower wall and the brought the wizard to his orgasm using his mouth.
Their fun did not end in the bathroom though. They stumbled onto the bed locked in a passionate kiss. Their later meeting with the other Immortal and his Watcher was forgotten as the two lovers tumbled together on the bed. Harry and Methos were busy with each other unaware of the storm coming their way.
End of chapter.
Beta's bit:-(1) about 742AD