Harry's second trip to the infirmary was a touch better than his first.
Opening his eyes, he was greeted to the sight of Hagrid trying to get his bulk into one of the small visitor chairs. The shaggy hair boy chuckled at Hagrid's grunts, only to let out a moan.
"Careful there, Mr. Potter," Poppy said, walking over to the child and checking his vitals. "You are a very lucky boy, you know that?"
"I don't feel lucky," Harry murmured, clutching his side. A soft cast was on his right arm, there were tight bandages wrapped around his chest and there was a splint on his left leg. Every time he breathed too hard it felt as if his lungs were being stabbed and his back ached but he couldn't shift at all.
"Well, you are," Poppy said, changing his IV. "You could have easily been killed."
"What do ya remember, 'arry?" Hagrid asked, leaning forward.
The boy scrunched up his brow. "I... I was racing towards the safe zone... a Magnamite was letting off this whine-"
"A whine or a screech?" Hagrid asked.
"A whine, definitely a whine."
"Well, that there explains it."
"Explains what?"
"The Voltorbs." Hagrid leaned back, the chair creaking as he did so. "That Magnamite must 'ave created an electromagnetic field. It drew in the Voltorbs and put enough electricity in the air to make'em blow."
"So... that wasn't normal?" Harry asked cautiously. It really didn't matter what Hagrid said, Harry was already mentally marking off 'Magnamite' and 'Voltorb' from his list of Pokémon he'd like to train one day.
"Bloody 'ell, 'arry, ya don't think we'd be that cruel, do ya?" Harry blushed and Hagrid shook his head. "Most likely it was nothin' more than a stray that wandered into the arena; looked almost like the real thing in there so I can't blame the little guy."
"You really think so, Hagrid?"
"Course, 'arry! What else could it be?"
The boy shrugged. "Well, after the Golurks got in I can't help but wonder if this weren't more than an accident."
"Bah!" Hagrid waved off that assertion. "I doubt anyone would be sendin' Pokémon in 'ere like that, 'arry! Not unless they were goin' after that ball Mr. Silph left with us-"
"Mr. Silph?"
"...you didn't hear that."
"Yes I did."
"Nope. No you didn't. Just 'earin' things, 'arry. The medicine is making you all lightheaded and makin' ya think I mentioned Mr. Silph's... there is no Mr. Silph."
"Just like there is no Tiny the Snorlax?"
"Right!" Hagrid said, a huge grin plastered on his face. He eased himself out of the chair and patted the boy on the shoulder, not noticing the way Harry grimaced as he did so. "Glad ya understand."
Harry watched Hagrid lumber off, wondering if, like his Aunt, the giant put something other than sugar in his tea.
~MC~MC~MC~
The news about Mr. Silph touched off a bit of a whirlwind for Harry and his friends. Harry, having already been caught twice in a break-in by Pokémon, wanted to learn what was so important that someone would try to rob a bank and send dangerous creatures into the school. Hermione, sniffing out a chance not only to do research but to do research with her friends, was instantly on board. Ron too was game to seek out the truth, admitting to the gang he a bit of a conspiracy buff (the fact that it kept Hermione focused on something other than getting to class early was never brought up by the red-head).
Neville had been the only holdout but even he eventually caved when he caught Flora joining Harry, Hermione and Ron in the library. One sight of his Pokémon helping get books down from the shelf and Neville had realized there was little point in fighting the inevitable.
Thus November turned to December and the children divided their attention between school, the Gauntlet, raising their Pokémon and researching Mr. Silph. Nothing major occurred during those weeks, which was a blessing (in that Harry did not have to visit the infirmary) and a curse (in that they did not have any new info on Mr. Silph).
Things would have probably kept along this track, if not for the fact that the \semester had come to an end and it was time for many of the students to return home for Winter Solstice.
"You two are really staying at the castle over break?" Hermione asked, adjusting her backpack for the third time. It was weighed down with all sorts of books and notes, the bushy-hair girl wanting to get a jump start on next semester's class work. She'd also bundled up all their findings about Nicholas Silph, hoping to discover more during the two week break.
Ron made a face. "Mum and dad are visiting my brother Charlie in Kanto."
"Why don't you want to go, though?" Neville asked, stroking Flora's head. "Now that the war is over it would be fun to see some of the sights."
"If they were going to Saffron City or Celadon, maybe. But Charlie works at the Charizard Valley. I mean, I get it; he puts in his dues and he gets his own dragon-type to raise. And his Charmander is pretty cool… but all that methane and the heat... sorry, but it is Winter Solstice, as in snow and cold. I'd rather stay here at the castle... and so would Harry!"
The bespectacled boy managed a grin as Ron placed an arm around his shoulder. The red-head could pretty it up all he wanted, but they all knew the real reason why Harry was staying at the castle: he had no place else to go. The moment he had chosen Hagrid over his Uncle and Aunt he had been effectively rendered an orphan. There was no home to go back to and no relatives to spend the holiday with. Of course, considering his relatives there wouldn't have been much of a holiday had he been welcomed back. At the castle he was at least guaranteed to get a good meal… and he didn't have to cook it or clean up afterwards.
"Well, try and keep up on the research," Hermione stated as she and Neville made their way towards the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Ron had followed them to the station to see them off; Neville's gran and Hermione's parents were waiting for them back in Galahard, along with the parents of all the other students who were returning home for the holidays. There were many smiling faces and bids of holiday cheer between those leaving and those staying that even the biting cold could not chase away the smiles on their faces.
Ron gave a half-hearted nod; though Harry made sure to flash his friends a thumbs-up to let them know that he would force Ron to keep his promise. Hermione and Neville gave them a quick wave before hurrying on the train, leaving the boys to stand on the platform as their classmates headed home for the holidays.
~MC~MC~MC~
The first few days of winter break took some getting used to. Harry had feared that staying at Hogwarts would mean extra lessons and chores. The professors who remained, to his surprise, worked hard to make the time enjoyable for those that would be celebrating the holidays within the ancient walls of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore had kicked things off by announcing that each day would see demonstrations by the professors of elements in their field. Prof. McGonagall used her time to showcase her pokemagnus skills and answer questions the students had about the rare talent. In the evening Hagrid had joined them for supper and wowed the kids with photos of some of the rare and 'beautiful' Pokémon he had seen. Harry didn't know if a Whiscash could be considered beautiful to anyone but Hagrid, but seeing one the size of a Wailord was definitely interesting.
The next day had found Prof. Flitwick and Prof. Sprout teaming up to give history lessons about Avalon. Ron had groaned at first, but as the teachers took turns telling legends of Avalon and explaining how myth related to modern day Pokémon and devices, even he had to admit that it was a rather fun day.
Tales of Merlin and the Founders filled Harry's mind and transported him to a time when Pokémon were new and foreign creatures that inspired awe and fear. Sprout spoke of the first ruler of Avalon, the legendary King Arthur, who along with his Ho-Oh brought the region into a time of prosperity and wealth. Tales of Sir Griflet, Galahad, and Mordred filled the air about the children and Harry longed for the day to continue on forever.
Ron and the other students had different thoughts. They gibbered on happily about the Solstice and were quite taken aback that Harry did not share their excitement.
"It's just another day," Harry told Ron two days before the big event as they ate in the Great Hall.
"Just another... blimey, Harry, are you trying to put one on me?" The red head laughed. "Just another day..." He waved off his friend and grabbed another helping of pudding. "Nice try, Harry."
The bespectacled boy had furrowed his brow at this but said nothing, wondering if he was missing something that the others knew about. December 25th was a rather dull day; Uncle Vernon would take the day off so he and Aunt Petunia could shower Dudley with gifts, but that was something between the three of them. His Aunt had assured him that the day was only for Dudley and Harry didn't receive a thing because he wasn't their son and only their children would get gifts on December 25th.
Thus, it was a confused boy who awoke at 6:30 am to find Ron, who was the farthest thing to a morning person as one could find, happily bouncing up and down beside his bed.
"Come on Harry!" Ron exclaimed, tugging on his arm and dragging him from his bed. "Come on, it's Winter Solstice."
Harry grabbed his glasses, blinking in confusion at his friend's exuberance. It reminded the shaggy-haired child of Hagrid's Snubbull when he found a new chew toy to play with.
Following after Ron, Harry marveled at just how quiet the common room was. Almost all the Gryffindors had left for the holiday, with only Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and a few older Gryffs to fill the tower. That morning Ron and Harry had the common room to themselves, as all save Fred and George had elected to wake up at a decent hour. The twins, for their part, had for once shown some restraint and decided to head down to the kitchens to get breakfast for everyone.
Harry only learned later that Fred and George had decided to pull a fast one on one of the Seventh Year Gryffs and were now desperately trying to make amends, lest the 6 foot 5 trainer with arms as thick a tree trunks make good on his promise to dangle them out a window and see how long his strength lasted.
"Come on Harry!" Ron said excitedly, taking a seat near the pine tree they'd decorated a few days ago. The twins had tried to explain why one would chop down a tree and bring it inside but Harry still thought it strange and wondered if this weren't a gag all the Gryffindors were in on. "I got our piles sorted!"
"What?" Harry said, lifting up his glasses to rub his eyes. "What piles?"
"Our presents!" Ron said in giddy delight.
"Our?" Harry repeated.
"Are you aright, mate?" Ron looked at him, concerned. "You aren't sick, are ya? That would be horrible, to be sick on Winter Solstice!"
Harry shook his head, wondering if he were still asleep and dreaming all of this. "I'm fine, Ron, just confused. What presents?"
Ron gestured towards a stack of gifts that sat near the ones he'd claimed as his own. There were more gifts under the tree, each labeled with the name of one of the Gryffindors that had stayed in the castle. "Your presents... you know, things that are wrapped up and are given to you?" Harry just stared at him. "Come on now, Harry, you're acting like... bloody hell!"
"Whoa!" Fred said, pushing a cart loaded down with pastries and other treats into the common room. George was right behind him with a cart set up for juice and coffee. Plusle and Minun, decked out in red caps with little white puff balls at the end, happily gibbered on as they trailed behind their trainers. "Watch the mouth there, Ronniekins! This is Winter Solstice!"
"Guys," Ron exclaimed, "these are the first presents Harry has ever gotten!"
The twins blinked, ready to crack a joke only to see the way Harry was shifting uneasily. The twins glanced at one another, silently communicating, before grabbing a plate and loading it up with cinnamon rolls, toast with jam, and a cup of juice. Fred hurried over and forced Harry to sit down while George passed him the plate and cup.
"Now then, what we have here is a rare opportunity, George."
"You said it Fred." George settled down next to Harry and wrapped an arm around the startled boy. "Harry, may I call you Harry? Harry... we now see that you have been quite deprived... or is it depraved?"
"We are depraved."
"Right. You have been quite deprived of the joys of Winter Solstice and we, the depraved ones, are going to take it upon ourselves-"
"And me!" Ron shouted.
"And Ronniekins, to teach you all about this wonderful holiday. First and foremost: gifts."
Fred nodded, taking up where his brother left off. "This is a present," Fred stated, picking up a box. "It is wrapped up nice and neatly and the person who got it for me, namely my mum, spent a lot of time wrapping it. We honor this hard work by ripping the packaging to shreds as fast as we can."
Fred did just this, tearing off the paper like a Poochyena attacking a bag of chips. Harry batted a crumpled bit of paper away as Fred lifted the lid on the box and pulled out a bright red sweater with the letter F on the left breast.
"Now," George said, sounding to Harry as if he were a narrator on a National Geographic program, "some slobs and ungrateful wretches would have you believe that this is all you must do and you can move onto the next present. We cultured, dignified-"
"UUUUUUUURRRRRP!" Fred belched, banging his fist against his chest.
"-and noble Weasleys know that getting a present is only half the story. You must make sure you record who gave you the gift so you can thank them properly."
"We have our little friends here keep track for us," George said, motioning to Minum who was scribbling on a piece of paper. The electric Pokémon grinned and flipped the paper around so Harry and Ron could see that he had drawn a picture of the two of them kissing. "...or sometimes we just write the lists ourselves."
"Go ahead, Harry, give it a try!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry nodded and took the present George passed to him. He had wanted to savor the moment of his first present but seeing the looks of delight on his friends' faces he settled for following the twins' advice and tearing the wrapping paper off. Tossing the lid aside, he couldn't help but grin as he found a sweater much like the one the rest of the Weasleys had gotten, only his featured an H on the left breast.
"Mum always makes us a new sweater," Ron said, slipping his on. "Family tradition."
Harry forced himself not to tear up, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of the twins. This was not only his first present but the first time someone had made it clear they thought of him has family. That alone was worth more than all the gifts in the world and everything that lay piled up before him was the frosting on the proverbial cake.
The four boys quickly began to tear into their packages, laughing and showing off their gifts. Harry had less than the others but didn't mind in the slightest; he was just thrilled to be a part of this gift-getting morning. He did receive some boxes of candy from the Gauntlet team, a new set of goggles to replace the ones destroyed by the Voltorbs, a brush for Eevee from Neville and a book on evolution stones from Hermione. Hagrid had sent him a small flute (luckily not a Pokeflute, as the memory of the Snorlax still haunted him) and a tin of cookies.
The twins and Ron assured the boy that they would clue everyone else in on why Harry hadn't got them any presents; Ron sheepishly admitted he also had forgotten several people, including Harry himself, but equated it to the fact that it didn't feel right to buy gifts from the school store. Fred and George, having promised to swear off pranks for this one day only, suggested they check out some websites in the afternoon and order a few 'welcome back' gifts to make up for any hurt feelings.
Ron was busy fiddling with an app card that would let his Dex get the Tor Town Tauros Official Radio Station when Harry noticed a small package buried in the shredded paper. Pulling it out, he was surprised to find his name on the box, though without a giver listed.
"What do you have there, Harry?" George asked, loading the foam dart gun Fred had given him and handing it to Minun, who giggled and took aim at Plusle.
"Don't know... I guess it's another gift."
"PLUSLE!"
"Nice shot!" Fred stated. He looked at the gift, considering it. "Either that or it's a deadly trap that will destroy us all." When the others stared at Fred he shrugged. "If we didn't swear off pranks today it would be something I'd do."
"Open it Harry!" Ron said excitedly.
Harry tore the package open, only to freeze as he stared at the prize nestled inside the box.
"Whoa," George said, leaning over Harry's shoulder. "Now that's something you don't see every day."
Harry, with trembling fingers, reached into the small box and removed a perfectly crafted ShadowFlame ball.
"Harry... isn't that..." Ran began.
"My mum made these," Harry whispered, running his fingers reverently along the smooth surface of the ball. On the top of the ball, in gold etching, the word 'Ludwig' was written in loopy cursive.
Ron spotted a slip of paper still in the box and snatched it up. "Hey, there's a note." Ron scanned the text, surprised by the contents. "'To Harry: to fulfill a promise to the best woman I ever knew.""
He ran his finger along writing, only to let out a yelp when the ball shock slightly and cracked open.
The four boys leaned back as a small Pokémon appeared before them, blinking his yellow eyes. His body resembled that of a candle, little waxy arms held out in glee when he saw Harry. The Pokémon levitated into the air, floating over to the dark-haired by and grasping his fingers with his tiny hands.
"Litwick!" the Pokémon declared as his wick burst into a small bluish-purple flame.
"A Litwick..." George murmured. "That... that..."
"That is the Pokémon Lily Potter used," Fred finished.
Harry had tears in his eyes as he gazed upon the Pokémon. It might not have been the one his mother used but it was the same type and that is all that mattered. He could feel the connection to the little ghost, the flame warming his skin. Harry reached out his left hand and ran it along Litwick's side, smiling as the candle Pokémon cooed.
Then they both disappeared.
"Harry!" Ron, Fred and George exclaimed.
"What?" Harry's voice said in confusion. The next moment he and Litwick were back, the two staring at the Weasleys.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed. "It has the invisibility ability!"
"No way!" Fred practically shouted. "The only known Litwick to have that ability was Lily Potter's!"
"Yours must be its son," George said, practically salivating at the thought of the pranks they could pull with a Pokémon that made you invisible.
Harry didn't hear a word of this, as he was too busy hugging Litwick close, trembling as he connected with something directly linked to his long-lost mother.
Author's Notes: And introducing Ludwig the Litwick!
Yup, I decided very early on that Harry would be getting Pokemon that were connected to important people in his life (both good and bad). His Eevee is the son of Voldemort's Eevee and now he has Ludwig, the son of Lily Potter's Chandelure. Creating a new ability (Invisibility) allows me to do the Invisibility Cloak but in a new, different way.
I went with something from Harry's mom first because in the books he gets enough from his dad. He got the cloak, the map, his patronus is based on his dad's Prongs-form... but almost nothing from Lily. Ludwig corrects this.
It is only mentioned in passing here, but Charlie and the Charizard Valley (god, that sounds like a Willy Wonka ripoff) deal with how starters and some rarer pokemon are raised. Families set up special farms where they are able to raise up rare pokemon. Some are sold while others are given to family members/friends. I will confirm right here and now some families that raise Pokemon this way: The Potters (Cyndaquil), the Malfoys (Snivy), Weasleys (Ratatta), Greengrasses (Vanillish), the Blacks (not revealed) and Kenways (not revealed). Families like the Parkensons buy rare pokemon but don't raise them.
As always, please please please review. I love reading and responding to reviews, giving out hints and talking out suggestions/ideas.