Avatar: The Tale of Harry, Book 1: Purity

by stringdog

Korra's time has passed and the world awaits the Avatar's return. Harry, an earthbender in his fourth year at the Elemental Academy, discovers that he is the new Avatar. Now he must master all the elements while dealing with the return of Korra's last enemy, a bloodbender set on bender supremacy and maintaining the purity of bending, and avoid making his own enemies in the process.

20. Chapter 20

Here is chapter 20 on time (a few days early) as always. No questions to answer after last week's mammoth chapter so just sit back and enjoy an averaged length installment in Avatar: The Legend of Harry. Book 1: Purity.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing relating to either of these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 20

Harry hurried to the phone bank room on the top floor of the Air House. One there Harry was glad to notice that the room was empty, it was still the break and most students were at home so thankfully he had the room to himself. At the moment Harry could only trust a few people given what had just happened and the less people knew he was asking after the only known Death Eater to desert the better. While the Air House was unlikely to have many spies, after reading the dossier Harry knew he would have to be careful. It was always best to be safe rather than sorry, his mother had taught him that. Harry thought for a moment trying to think of where his godfather would be at this time of day and decided the most likely spot would be his office in Omashu stadium. Harry knew the private number for by heart. His dad had trained him there from an early age and made sure Harry knew it by heart should he ever need it. Walking over to the farthest phone in the bank Harry picked up the device and making sure he had a view of the door entered the number he knew would reach Sirius.

The phone rang a few times before Harry heard Sirius' familiar voice answer it. "Sirius, Head Coach of the Omashu Ostrich/horses the best probending team in the world, speaking. How did you get this private number? Cos if your that fine lady I met last night I may have been absolutely trashed but I swear I did not give you this number."

"Oh I don't remember how." Harry said with a smile at a typical response from his godfather. "Perhaps it has something to do with being the son of the greatest Ostrich/horse in history."

"That's funny" Sirius said clearly playing along with Harry. "I don't remember having a son though seeing as I have sown my fair share of wild oats so I could have many illegitimate children though I would deny any claims. You however sound like my best friend and slightly worse teammate James' kid. He always did think he was the best on the team when it was really I who cared us in our glory years."

"Well dad did have a few stories that may have been exaggerated like the time he single handedly won the championship with a must win 4 on 1 3rd round knockout. Then again I have seen the film that conclusively shows he was better than whoever the team's waterbender was during the glory days."

"Meh we were basically equal." Sirius grumbled. "Anyway what does the esteemed Avatar want with a lowly Head Coach."

Harry laughed before he replied. "The Head Coach of one of the most historic franchise in probending history, a 2 time league MVP and 6 time Waterbender of the Year in his heyday as a player, the 6th bender in Ostrich/horse history to have his number retired and a onetime Head Coach of the Year after retiring to become the Head Coach. No I would not say that you are a lowly Head Coach, Sirius. Besides you were my godfather before I was discovered to be the Avatar so I should have the right to call you whenever I want."

"True Harry very true." Sirius said. "I do enjoy having my ego inflated by the Avatar though do know that if I am in the company of a lady or multiple ladies I reserve the right to not answer your call."

"Of course I completely understand that should that fantasy happen for you I won't disturb you." Harry said.

"Oh it happens regularly." Sirius replied. "Anyway mind if I use your support of and connection to the Ostrich/horses to help sell tickets."

"You need my help to sell tickets to a team as storied as the Ostrich/horses?" Harry said with genuine incredulity.

"Well no we don't but advertising that the Avatar is the son of one of the legendary Marauders that dominated the league for years would bring in so much more support and fans from all over the world and be a boom to Omashu's economy." Sirius said.

"That's fine Sirius though I am surprised that you haven't done so already." Harry said. "Though I don't work for free so work something out with dad."

"Who says I haven't" Sirius replied with a laugh. "But I haven't yet, at least officially but I will now. Of course I'll talk with the owner and I'm sure we can work something out, not that the Avatar need any cash."

"Good anyway Sirius I did not need to call to discuss the current state of the Ostrich/horses or the state of the Omashu economy." Harry said. "Nor my need for cash."

"So what do you want to talk about?" Sirius asked taking a serious tone for the first time in the conversation. "I am assuming it has something to do with the recent news."

"Sort of but not directly involved with the recent actions that occurred last night or this morning." Harry said. "However in regards to the events of last night and this morning I did want to ask what the situation is in the Earth Kingdom after Voldemort and Lucius's announcements. I've been very busy since then and the Imperial State governors don't tend to have the showmanship or grandstanding that Lucius loves nor do they have significant standing in the world to make such a statement to the whole world."

"Unfortunately not good Harry." Sirius replied. "Your father would have a better idea what is going on in Ba Singe Se where King Wu has called an emergency joint session of the Imperial Senate and the House of Citizens to address the crisis that is going on in the Earth Kingdom."

"The King has called an emergency session!" Harry said unable to hide the surprise in his voice. "He hasn't done that since the Governor Gero crisis."

"Yes but again your father would know better I can only give you the general overview of what has happened." Sirius said.

"That works for me." Harry said. "As the Avatar I'll learn more soon enough seeing as I am at the center of this madman's threat."

"Well the State of Omashu has your back." Sirius said. "The Governor officially announced that today that the State of Omashu will support you against an illegitimate madman. The Earth King has backed you as well, he has condemned Voldemort and his Death Eaters as criminals, terrorists and traitors. Well he did that 25 years ago when the last war began but Wu reaffirmed that stance today. Unfortunately four states have seceded from the ISEK and declared their loyalty, support, money, resources and forces to Voldemort."

"Seceded?" Harry asked. "That's unprecedented, not even Governor Gero tried to claim independence, just claimed he was the heir to the legacy of Chin the Conquer and tried to take over the neighboring state to Chin."

"Remember the states do have a lot of autonomy but this hasn't happened before so the legality of a state becoming independent has yet to be questioned." Sirius said. "The ISEK constitution is distinctly devoid of language on this right."

"Let me guess" Harry said. "The Imperial States of Kuei, Skrit, Tor Blinn and Yi are the 4 states that have seceded and joined Voldemort and likely the Northern Water Tribe."

"How did you guess that?" Sirius said apparently genuinely surprised.

"I'll tell you in a moment." Harry said quickly. "What happened in the 4 states."

"The governors of the 4 states all announced that they had seceded from the ISEK almost immediately after Lucius's announcement and each declared themselves rulers for life over their states with full autocratic powers granted to them by their state legislators." Sirius said. "However it would appear that they were planning this for years, possibly as far back as the 1st Purity War. There's no other way they could have made such declarations so swiftly after Lucius unless this was already in the works. The governors have sworn loyalty to Voldemort, erected walls along their borders that are as large and thick as those of Ba Sing Se, they have pardoned all known Death Eaters and benders who have committed crimes against nonbenders and expunged their records saying that their crimes were not crimes at all but justifiable actions against inferior beings. They have voided Imperial and International equality laws as violations of balance, the rights of benders, and the natural order because they rise the weak to the level of the strong at the expense of the strong. Of course we both know this is bullshit. They have imposed harsh laws on nonbenders, similar to what the Northern Water Tribe has passed, that basically takes away all their rights. The biggest problem is that the States of Kuei and Tor Blinn border the United Republic and both have strong national guards. Kuei's is the largest and most powerful while Tor Blinn's ranks 4th I believe. We're pretty sure that the General in charge of the Kuei National Guard is a Death Eater but that has never been proven. They have slowed down all possible transport into the United Republic because we cannot get through or over the states. They have closed the borders to any but pre approved Purists and those who can prove their loyalty to Voldemort. Any citizen of another State or Nation left inside the borders as of last night is trapped there for the foreseeable future and we don't know what the states intend to do with them. Hopefully they will just expelled them but with Voldemort and his Death Eaters that is a slim chance."

"And what of their representatives in Ba Sing Se?" Harry asked.

"Unfortunately it would seem that most were forewarned of the plan and got the fuck out of Ba Sing Se before the declarations of independence and support for a totalitarian, egotistical, racist, bigoted, elitist, madman." Sirius said, "6 of the 8 Imperial Senators as well as most of the representative in the House of Citizens successfully fled Ba Sing Se and reached their home states before they could be apprehended. A total of 7 have been arrested, 2 senators and 5 representatives, and transported to the solitary confinement section of the Catacombs Prison Complex and charged with treason and espionage. They face the Imperial death penalty if convicted."

"Good maybe King Wu and the IBI can get some answers from them." Harry said. "What senators?"

"The senior senator from Skrit and the junior senator from Kuei." Sirius said, "One was caught on the train as it passed through the state of Cymru en route to Kuei thanks to the Cymru National Guard and the other as his airship was leaving Ba Sing Se. He must have been delayed leaving but the Senator from Skrit was the chairman of the intelligence committee and was caught with highly classified material in his airship. We are glad that the highest ranking of their representatives was caught."

"Chairman of the Intelligence Committee?" Harry asked, that fit with the Death Eaters and Purists pattern of having high ranking members in power but at least he was caught with the documents.

"Yes it was a surprise" Sirius said. "The IBI has launched an investigation into the Imperial Government to see if there are any spies there. Luckily he is guaranteed a life sentence without parole for his crimes, possibly a death sentence. Anyway you haven't said why you guessed those 4 states without knowing that they were the ones that seceded."

"I was recently granted access to a file written over time by President Scrimgeour back when he was Chief of Police." Harry said. "It details known and suspected Death Eaters and a few prominent Purists and allies to Voldemort. Of the earthbenders who were known or suspected Death Eaters they were linked to those 4 states, as well as one linked to Ba Sing Se and another who was stateless. 2 of the suspects were high ranking officials in Yi and Kuei while 2 known Death Eaters are highly connected to the Tor Blinn and Skrit governments. Though Selwyn was active in Republic City not Tor Blinn prior to his outing as a Death Eater."

"I presume they are General Rowle of Kuei and Governor Goyle of Yi." Sirius said. "They are friends with my family so I am not surprised at all and they are known to hold Purist views. Selwyn and Travers are known Death Eaters and their home states did little to condemn them after they were revealed. Right after Voldemort's announcement I was certain that there would be push back from those 4 states but the levels they went too were unprecedented. Honestly I think they're confident that they will win this time because they aren't facing a fully realized Avatar."

"What were they like during the first war?" Harry asked. "And yes I agree that if I had already mastered all the elements then they may not be this bold but I intend on proving them wrong."

"The same as they are now but they didn't go this far." Sirius said. "They were like the Northern Water Tribe, they supported Voldemort's goals and helped him as best they could but they couldn't openly declare support. After the war they claimed coercion on the part of Voldemort to cover their asses but the whole world knew it was a lie there just wasn't enough evidence to charge any of them. This though is different, they and the Northern Water Tribe must really think they will succeed, likely because the only person who could stop them is you and your not fully trained yet unless you are and haven't announced it. Wait don't tell me James would kill me if you updated me before him. I'm just surprised my dad would be so open about his support now, he has always been careful in the past just in case. That's enough to convince me that Voldemort will strike soon and is supremely confident that they will win."

"Well speaking of your family we have finally gotten to the root of why I called you." Harry said. "Though the update was needed thank you. Is this line secure? After seeing Voldemort hijack a VV wave, something I didn't think was possible, I want to make sure he can't listen into phone calls."

"Of course it is Harry." Sirius said. "Radio may be able to be intercepted, and apparently VV but I think it was something more like a multi frequency broadcast. However the technology to intercept phone calls has yet to be developed and besides the Governor made sure to check them this morning so it should be safe. I predict that there is no chance that Voldemort can overhear us. Again Harry what is this all about and why does it have something to do with my excuse of a family. You know I disowned them years ago and though I haven't told you that disownment got me banished, at the request of my father, from the Northern Water Tribe. Not that I'm complaining mind you I was already in self imposed exile at the time."

"Yeah I just read about that in the file and was surprised you didn't tell me about that fact." Harry said.

"There's not much to talk about it." Sirius said. "It was for the best I hated that fucking place anyway. The attitudes, the elitism, the bigotry it was all too much for me. Besides Omashu is a much better place to live."

"Anyway what I wanted to ask you about was related to where I read that you were banished." Harry said before taking a breathe and asking what he had called his godfather to ask. "I wanted to ask you about your brother Regulus. I know you don't talk about him much but I read in the file that he was a Death Eater who deserted from their ranks."

"Yeah I remember." Sirius said with a sigh, a distinct note of sadness in his voice. "I may not have been close with my idiot brother and I don't miss him but the lack of any evidence on what happened to him is upsetting, I just want to know he's dead so I can close that chapter of my life. Anyway Regulus was more malleable and softer than I was and believed all the racist, bigoted, elitist, purist bullshit my parents sprouted about nonbenders and the need for the preservation of the purity of bending, especially within the noble pureblood families like ours. After I ran away at 17 and disowned them at 18 my father had me banished officially for running away but we all know it was for my views and refusal to accept theirs. Then my father officially named Regulus as his heir. When Regulus was 18, right after he graduated from the Academy, he did what my father was too old for, he joined the Death Eaters. I know this because that was the last time I spoke to my father. He called me with the news and said that Regulus was a true son and noble bender who was loyal to their righteous cause for balance, purity and bender supremacy, well he didn't say the last bit but we know that's what they want, and that I was a blood traitor who was as good as dead to him. Naturally I told the authorities but by the time they acted and indicted Regulus on terrorism charges had been appointed as an attaché to the Ambassador to the Foggy Swamp Tribe. As such held diplomatic immunity that the Tribal Council would not revoke and the indictment was torn up. A year or two later he must have been asked to do something that was too extreme for him and he deserted from the ranks of the Death Eaters. We found out shortly after the Ambassador and Regulus went to the Fire Nation as Lucius's representatives for some probending match. Apparently Regulus didn't make the match and then Voldemort issued a bounty on my brother's head and he was convicted by the Northern Water Tribal Council for treason and sentenced to death in absentia. That was when we knew he had deserted but by the time the Order of the Phoenix had gotten to the Fire Nation to try and bring in Regulus his trail had gone cold and he has never been seen since. For all of his faults and Purist views Regulus wasn't violent and would never go for the extremism that the Death Eaters engaged in to achieve their goals. I know Regulus honestly believed in their philosophy but not in their approach to implanting it. I think he honestly believed that Avatar Korra would see the truth and ensure that all the nations rectified the imbalances that he and other Death Eaters saw in them without the need for violence. Foolish idea but at least it was relatively harmless. After he vanished I don't know what happened to him, hell we only knew he had deserted because of the bounty Voldemort put on his head and the declaration of his treason to the Northern Water Tribe that Lucius announced. It must have been really bad for my father to agree with Lucius on it and thus end his pureblood line, unless he has a young pureblood mistress somewhere which I wouldn't put it past him. I haven't heard anything about him in 15 years and assumed he was dead but I want confirmation. At least he may have done something good in the end. Sorry for the rank Harry but why are you asking about my lost brother?"

"Because I think he may still be alive." Harry said after digesting all Sirius had said. He had let his godfather tell the tale and didn't interrupt him as Harry knew Sirius was still felt something for his brother. "And I think I have seen him recently."

"Really, where?" Sirius said an odd note in his voice that Harry couldn't quite place. "Are you sure? I didn't know you even knew what he looked like."

"He had an official picture in the file." Harry said. "I know it was over 15 years old but I could swear I've seen him."

"I doubt he's changed much in the last 15 years." Sirius said. "Where did you see him? If possible I'd like to talk to him as I may have misjudged him. I always thought he was weak, easily lead and a Purist to the core who would follow the cause but deserting from Voldemort's forces and during the height of the war, well that took balls. I didn't know Regulus had balls."

"Do you know the homeless man who lives in King Bumi Park that surrounds the stadium." Harry said.

"Yeah I know him, or at least of him." Sirius said after a brief pause. "Never got a good look at him though which is odd given how long he has been there. He showed up there what 10, 12 years ago or so by this point. He always seemed to run away whenever I got near as if he didn't want me to see him which I'll admit is a little suspicious. He seemed harmless though so I just let him be. I don't really spend that much time in the park anymore so it's been a while since I really gave the man a thought. No one knows much about him he just appeared one day and never left. Honestly after he started to run away from me I lost interest in helping him. He always seemed alright and the weather in Omashu is mild most of the year. Why what about him?"

"Try and get near him if you can." Harry said. "Using bending if you have too. You will know better than me but I think he may be Regulus. I never really got a good look at him when I tried to help him and his beard didn't help but he always looked a little familiar to me but I couldn't quite place it until I saw his picture today and meditated on it."

"Are you sure Harry?" Sirius said with a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Cos this is major if you are right."

"No I'm not but it is worth checking Sirius." Harry said. "If he is Regulus then the information he could potentially provide could be critical in the impending war. We need all the info we can get on the Death Eaters if we are going to stop them for good this time. If not then it's just a harmless homeless man."

"Alright I'll trust you on this Harry." Sirius said. "May be hard for me to catch him seeing as he has run from me in the past but I didn't earn the nickname Padfoot for no reason. I'll look into this and bending may help because I can recognize Regulus's style. However the homeless man has never shown his ability to bend. Even if it is him I doubt he was trusted with any sensitive information. I am pretty sure Regulus was likely just a junior Death Eater. Anyway how have you been through all this shit Harry. Your mother would kill me then revive me and kill me again, probably several times, if she learned we had spoken and I hadn't asked how you were."

"I'm good Sirius." Harry said with a smile, of course his mother would threaten that to Sirius. "I called her and dad last week and I told them last week I have mastered airbending so it's three elements down only your own element of water left."

"Who's the waterbending master who will be teaching you?" Sirius asked. "Old Master Horace can't still be teaching can he? He used to play favorites and you would have been the jewel of his collection."

"No he left the year before I started." Harry said. "I'm going to be taught by the current Head of the Water House, Master Severus."

"That greasy haired, hooked nose, git who's only wardrobe is pure black robes." Sirius said. "Though I would pay anything to see him in full Foggy Swamp Tribe getup but alas he hasn't ever been seen in it."

"Yeah how did you know that?" Harry asked.

"He went to the Academy with us." Sirius said. "He must be the first Head of House to have been a student. We were all students together in same year back in the early years of the Academy. He was a git then and is a git now. The man hung out with a bunch of Purists, some of who like Rosier, Wilkes, Rabastan and Rodolphus would be proven to be Death Eaters and mass murderers. Severus was never even suspected of activity or of holding Purist views but the man was one of the best waterbenders in the world, of that you can be sure of that. Hailing from the Foggy Swamp Tribe he always had a chip on his shoulder given the nature of that Tribe, its rustic lifestyle and perceived as being the backwoods of the world. He always tries to distance himself from his swampy roots. A word of warning Harry, Severus and James never go along, always competing and trying to one up each other though I never found out why. I admit we weren't nice to him but he replied with interest. He will play favorites Harry and will favor the Purists in his house, especially purebloods from the Northern Water Tribe, and will certainly give you a hard time because of your father."

"That's good to know Sirius I'll keep that in mind." Harry said. "I am looking forward to moving to the Water House in a few days and finally learning waterbending."

"And does this have anything to do with a smoking hot ginger water princess living nearby." Sirius said, "And those ice walls can easily be thickened so that you can't hear an screaming, if she is a screamer that is. Plus the coolness of the dorm encourages naked cuddling to gain warmth."

"It doesn't hurt that Ginny is nearby but so is my best friend and her brother Ron." Harry said with a laugh. "I am not going to bother asking how you know that. Have you been talking to Luna again though, she tends to have a very blunt and very dirty mind. You know what don't answer that I don't want to know especially if you have been giving her tips, or vice versa. Having them near me will help with my learning. The masters can only teach me so much after all. My friends know how I learn better than any of the masters and thus can help just as much. Ron is the best combat waterbender in the Academy so he will really supplement the teachings of Severus. Ginny will be able to help with the spiritual side of not just waterbending but bending and the world in general and that's something I really struggle with."

"Good idea Harry" Sirius said, "I take it you used your other friends for fire and airbending. And yes I have been talking to Luna and giving her tips for what to do with Ron in the Water House."

"Of course." Harry said deciding to ignore the Luna line. "I always train hard and try to master my elements or their sub-bending arts as fast as possible. Then the Voldemort Threat emerged and has now increased exponentially. Then there is the likely future threat of the other intolerant, dictatorial, delusional nutcase in the world that is Hermione and the Enlightened. So I felt it was best to learn everything as fast as possible so I can be at my fullest potential as soon as possible seeing as an attack is imminent. Plus we can always use the practice for the upcoming tournament."

"You ready to win it again?" Sirius asked.

"Does a platypus bear shit in the woods." Harry replied with a laugh.

Sirius laughed on the other end of the line at Harry's comment. "Good boy Harry. Another year another dominant tournament win."

"Of course" Harry replied. "We haven't faced a real challenge all tournament all year and our last practice session we developed a few moves that will be totally unexpected. Plus Draco and his cronies are banned because they cheated last year and they were our main threat not because of skill but because they would cheat even harder. Our semifinal match is the first night of the semester."

"Who are you facing?" Sirius asked.

"The Pranksters, or at least that's what they call themselves." Harry said. "They're Fred and George's team, Ron's elder, identical twin brothers who are in their 6th year here. In fact of their team are 6th year students. They have a reputation for trickery, skirting the rules, and inventive tactics and they are skilled enough to pull it off. They also like to spy on other teams and sometimes prank team members who have a weaker replacement. They will be our biggest threat but we are ready for them."

"Damn that's going to be a good match." Sirius said. "I was hoping to scout that team, especially their airbender Alicia and earthbender Angelina who could be good reserves and future stars for us when they graduate. Fred and George would have been good too but we know they have no desire to go pro. However given the current situation travel to the United Republic is highly unadvised. Besides the league is temporarily suspended because there are teams in all 4 states that have declared support for Voldemort and two more in the Northern Water Tribe and as such the season can't continue until the situation is sorted out. However that is not your concern I'm simply venting my frustrations at the league being suspended so I have jack shit to do right now. Well now that Voldemort is back I will return to the Order of the Phoenix once I have checked out the homeless man and can figure out how to get to Ba Sing Se and meet up with James."

"I understand why they have done that but it will give you time to train the current team." Harry said. "If you can find the time that is given the current global threat. As for Fred and George they still want to open a joke shop in Republic City's high end Diagon Alley. Anyway Sirius I have to go, duty calls, I just wanted to let you know about my theories on Regulus and find out about the state in the Earth Kingdom following all the events of the last 12 or so hours. Being the Avatar is a 24/7 job after all."

"Ok stay safe Harry" Sirius said. "I'll look into that homeless man for you today. Call me tomorrow if you find the time and I'll let you know about what I find out."

"Thank you Sirius." Harry said before he hung up and left the phone room.

Harry headed back down to his room to get his copy of the dossier. Then Harry had to find Luna and get her to tell the others through spirit projection to meet him in his old room in the Earth House in a few hours. They had to discus and break down all they had learned so far and what the next step was that they needed to take. Sleep would still have to wait, at least for a few more hours.

There's still a few chapters until I reveal anything about whether or not Regulus is alive so y'all just have to wait. No real explanations needed for this chapter so I will keep this section brief. As usual read, review, enjoy and any useful reviews and/or PMs will be listened to and questions will be answered in 9 days time when chapter 21 is released at the usual time next Sunday at midnight. Until next week.

Stringdog