Hey guys! I just today realized what a long time it has been since I last updated this thing and I am sorry. I got sucked into the freshman year stuff. Good thing is I only got a month left of my first year so there should be more chapters during the summer months when I have time to write.

I was just in a happy mood for having finished my last assessment for the moment and wanted to give something to you as well. I can't tell you how happy your reviews make me. Sometimes you can be feeling so down and then you notice a review alert in your Inbox and your whole day just gets better and you cannot stop smiling. Such a boost to confidence as well.

(Added 2/4/2012) So let's answer some reviews.

Almecestris: You bring up a good point about Caelum revealing the Parseltongue ability. But if you go back, you're going to notice that Harry was the first one to speak in Parseltongue. Even if Caelum immediately saw the repercussions of that action – which I'm not saying he did - the fact remains that there were no snakes around and there was no reason for Harry to suddenly start hissing unless he expected someone to understand him. Dumbledore has a brilliant mind and he could have deduced it. And Dumbledore getting the memory was always a possibility.

It also seems that Zahra divides opinions. Some of you love her and others really do not like her. All I can say is that she has her part in the story and in my opinion she brings some reality to the equation. Children – and humans in general – are not angels and when something bad happens, the reactions vary. No one in my story is perfect – just as you don't find a person that is perfect. Zahra has her role and she will grow during the story, just as Harry will. At the moment she is testing the limits and wondering if Caelum really cares about her or if it is a cruel joke like her life has been for hundreds of years. That warrants a little misbehavior in my opinion. She was born human and she has seen the worst that mankind has to offer. And she might have picked up on a few things on the way.

I'm not revealing much about the future, just saying that next chapter, 21, has Sorting and Caelum's plan about the bottle.

Without further rambling, here's the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and no money is made with this.

OF SHADOW, SHINE AND SHADES by dra6on

Chapter 19. Ready?

He had tried and tried. But all of his efforts had been in vain. Though his first idea had included involving the elf in her tomb he had reconsidered and attempted the find a comatose human body that Zahra could then occupy. The problem was that the body had to have a magical core and there simply weren't comatose young girls available. He had even tried abroad but now – only two weeks before September 1st – he had to let go of his reluctance and take advantage of the situation.

Harry had stayed back in London with Syl, Kreacher and Citala while only Caelum and Zahra had returned to Egypt. He knew that the result could be potentially disastrous and he did not want to endanger Harry unnecessarily. He had kept it a secret from everyone in his family but he had dropped for a visit in Gringotts and arranged his will. It was a precaution. He had already destroyed one horcrux and if Voldemort should ever discover this he would make it to the top of his killing list.

Even if he had killed the Voldemort of his original world, there were no guarantees that he could repeat the feat here. The Dark Lord was dangerous to the nth degree and in a fight anything could happen. Nothing could be taken for granted and though he had not even been a mage nor had his wandless magic when he had killed Voldemort he simply did not know if this world was the same in that aspect. It could be that this world's Dark Lord was weaker. But then again it could mean that he was a hundred times more powerful.

He simply did not know.

"Come on." He gathered Zahra in his arms. "Ready to Apparate?"

After feeling the Genie nod against his chest he concentrated on the feeling of the tomb, on the outstanding sight that had for a moment stolen his breath away and let his magic carry them away to their destination.

Of course they ended up on the edges of the Anti-Apparition wards but it was a short walk to the innermost chamber. The traps in the mural chamber had already been triggered and in the second chamber the quicksand was easy to follow.

As far as he could see nothing had changed during his absence. Though it had been months ago in this remnant of the ancient world the time seemed to stand still. The sand had piled against the pillars that reached high to the ceiling that bore the only marks of time's effect on this place. But still, even then, the cracks seemed to belong, bringing an even more authentic feel to this place.

And in the middle of the room was the glass coffin. Within it lay the High Elf, Daughter of Yelvyn.

"She's beautiful," Zahra whispered, awed. "Is it alright? I… This place seems… sacred."

He did not know what to answer at first. Absentmindedly he now noticed that the vines on which she lay were actually magically crafted rubies. Same in the pillars and on the walls. Silver and jewels on the coffin.

"She was left here by her people. Her spirit is gone and this is… a shrine. I do not know who she was." Caelum took a step closer and laid his hand over glass. The magic made his palm tingle. "But I do know that our need is great and that if the Fates exist, they must deal with this decision as I cannot think of anything else. And you are part of our family. I cannot think of another way to protect you."

Zahra came to stand by him. The sand crunched beneath her boots and she had a small smile on her face. "I am going to be so beautiful."

"Remember the changes that occur after the blood adoption. At the least I think your hair colour will change. I hope it is not the eyes as mine and Harry' eyes are quite distinctive."

"I was hoping I could get them…"

"We better get started." Caelum began pulling various items out of non-place. Zahra's bottle, two ceremonial athames, a wine bottle, a silver cup and a small bottle of clear liquid. Also, the Staff appeared and hovered above them, its green light mixing with the light of Caelum's earlier Lumos Maxima.

"Sit over here. Don't move." He noticed Zahra's eyes had not left her bottle for a second since it had been on plain view and he had to wonder if the girl understood the bond they would be breaking. She had got used to being nearly omnipotent. Her powers were dangerous and she had been using them to do anything for herself within her little world in the bottle during those long centuries she had spent alone. After this was done… it would all be gone.

They had talked about it but how could he ever convey the truth of the matter with words only? He did not even understand it himself.

Reflexively he called the Staff to his hand and clenched his fist around it. If he were to lose his power… If he were to not be a mage no longer – but something lesser? How could he adapt? His magic was an old friend that supported him through everything. Even if it had fought against him and he had lost parts of it, the core was essentially the same. And if after all that he had experienced it would change… How could he live the same?

"I need to get her body out of the coffin." His voice broke but he ignored it. It was a simple matter of waving the Staff for the glass to disappear. The wines retreated as though to give him better access and very carefully he hooked his arms behind her upper back and knees. She was feather light as he lifted her – though that might have had something to do with the changes the Emerald had wrought upon him.

"I will lay her before you. We spoke about this but I will still talk you through it."

"She's so beautiful…" Zahra reverently whispered and reached out to brush her fingers against the Elf's glowing skin. She faintly trailed them down the Elf's cheek and the skin seemed to sparkle in the wake of the path her delicate fingers took.

"It will be your face soon." He reached out and closed his hand around her fingers, drawing them away. "Are you sure about this? I don't want you to feel as though I am pressuring you into anything and though you say that-"

"Shut up, Caelum."

He did. Simply because he had never heard her use such a tone. Zahra's purple eyes were serious and piercing as she looked up at him. That look nearly made him cringe away from the raw pain that was momentarily reflected there.

"I am slave to that bottle. Even now, at this moment… through its power, I am a slave to you." He opened his mouth to protest but Zahra ploughed on, "I have to follow your direct orders. Even though I trust you not to abuse that power… What if you lose the bottle?" She bit her lip and looked away. "What if someone horrible picks it up and I go back to what used to be? I am happy now, and I want to continue to be happy. I want to stay with you and Harry and I want to live something of a normal life. As long as that bottle ties me into being a Genie… I can't be any of those things. I understand that being an Elf is not normal either but I wouldn't be a slave. We're doing this. Get started."

He nodded. Closing his eyes the mage took a deep breath and slowly released it. Very, very slowly he began to unravel the shields he had built around his magic while still keeping his mind protected. It was excruciating work and he did not have too much time before his "problem" surfaced.

"Zahra, I order you to possess this body." The words echoed in the emptiness and beside him he felt the Genie's magic obey his command. It fluctuated like a sheet being compressed into a smaller and smaller form that then entered the still body lying on the sand bed. Just as Caelum opened his eyes he saw a clear violet aura surrounding the body. He drew in a sharp breath.

"Zahra, can you hear me?"

The lips moved. "The body feels dead."

"That's because it is. This might feel strange but bear with it, okay?"

Just as with Arcturus, Caelum let his raw magic flow into the body before him. It surrounded the Genie within and then seeped through her. He saw the body shudder as his magic worked its way through it but did not stop. Next: the organs.

Working with raw magic called for precision few people ever obtained. It was the ultimate method of preserving the body and causing destruction. A True Necromancer had to have mastered the manipulation of raw magic as it was the only existing thing that could preserve the dead and even bring them back to life – no matter how unorthodox those methods might be. That was what Caelum was doing right now. He was by no means a Necromancer but had studied the Forbidden Arts after seeing the results of Voldermort's experimentation and Apophis' armies of the undead. Fortunately he had also discovered a couple of books on Necromancy in the Black Family Manor. Without them he might not have been able to do this now – and even then he was shaping the ritual to better suit him.

Necromancers used symbols and sacrifices but Caelum's talent with raw magic allowed him to skip those steps and simply restart the body's function. He already had the spirit in Zahra and had no need to summon another. Now the only extremely difficult task was to bind the body and Zahra's life force together. To do that he needed to call for the Genie's most powerful magic.

"Zahra. I wish for you to merge yourself with this body. I wish it to become yours as though you were the one born into it. I wish for you to live in it and use it. I wish for you to be it."

Hearing the Master's wish the magic reacted almost violently. The Elf's – no, Zahra's – body arched off the ground and her mouth opened in a silent scream. To Caelum's Mage Sight it was as though a maelstrom of magic had just exploded out of nowhere right before his eyes. All colours imaginable seemed to whirl around them, some of them flowing through Caelum's magic into him and beginning to form the foundation for their bond. The others shot outward and bounced off the walls and the ceiling, rick rocketing in every direction.

The man reached for the athames and waited for the right moment. He was starting to feel the stirring within him but held on. He would not lose it at this moment. Not when someone needed him.

"There!"

For a tenth of a second the magic cleared away. Caelum brought the athame down, slashing diagonally over Zahra's heart while the other weapon was pressed against the palm of his right hand, causing him to bleed.

"Sanguinem Accipe."

He laid his hand over the wound on her chest.

"Mihi Sanguine. Fieri Black. Filia Black. Sanguinem Accipe. Mihi Sanguine."

Zahra screamed and her skin boiled as it would in a Polyjuice transformation. The silver hair slowly turned to the Black characteristic colour but it kept its sheen. The glow of the skin lessened and the tone became darker though not nearly as dark as Zahra's had originally been. The pointed ear tips turned rounder. There were also other changes, so miniscule that to a normal bystander they might not seem even changes at all. But the shape of her lips, the tilt of her chin… everything became slightly more human.

Caelum abandoned his watch over her for a few precious moments as he popped the wine bottle open and poured a hefty amount in the silver cup. The contents of the smaller bottle also ended up in the cup.

"Zahra, my daughter. I need you to drink this."

The lips moved slightly open and he poured the liquid into her mouth. Massaging her new/old throat to help her swallow, he smiled as the Bloodwine forged a connection between them. He had a daughter now. A daughter that carried his blood. Who was his heir.

He had never thought he'd have the chance to see his own children. Not since he'd realized his preferences and after having lost Severus to the war. But perhaps the Fates were willing to grant him some miracles for the hardships they kept putting him through. Zahra and Harry both certainly were worth it all.

A full blown tremor ran through his frame and something familiar inside him shifted. He clenched his hands into fists and spoke through gritted teeth,

"Zahra, by Heart and Blood, by Magic and Might, by Soul and Being… will you be my daughter?"

Her eyes opened for the first time and Caelum saw they had retained their purple colour. A small smile twisted at her full lips and she responded in a whisper, "With all my Heart and Blood, all my Magic and Might, all my Soul and Being… I am your daughter, Harry Caelum James Potter-Black."

A silvery glow surrounded them but Caelum did not see it. His body shook even as he began reconstructing his shields and drawing in his magic. The power was building in the air around him and as the final wisp of magic returned to him he closed the shields around himself and rolled away. The Staff appeared in his hand and he grasped it like a life-line in a storm. His breaths were coming out as raspy pants and sweat beaded on his forehead while the monster within him raged against the bars of its cage. He grimaced and forced himself to calm down.

"Caelum?"

He heaved himself off the ground and rolled his shoulders. "I'm fine. A momentary relapse. It's okay now."

"Oh."

The mage looked down at the girl who was sitting on the ground. She was wearing the white gown that had been on the Elf but with the slight changes to her appearance it seemed to stand out even more. He offered her his hand and helped her up. She stumbled and nearly fell but Caelum caught her.

"Sorry." She kept a hold on him as she slowly tried to get used to her new body. Suddenly she froze. "I can still feel the bottle and the slave bond." She frowned. "Though the bond we have is stronger."

Caelum caught himself staring. Zahra had been beautiful in her Genie form but the elf body took beauty to another level. She would pass for a veela if not for the dark hair. She would also pass for a twelve year old though a very mature one as the Genie magic had rejuvenated her. The mage wondered what kind of problems he would have in the future but decided worrying about that right now was not worth it.

"I will take care of the bottle in a couple of weeks. Moving sooner than that would compromise everything." He summoned the objects to him and sent them to non-space. Caelum winked at his daughter. "How about we go back to London to one very worried young doppelganger of mine and tell him that everything is alright and he can stop pulling at his hair?"

She grinned but stumbled again. Laughing, the mage Apparated them to London.

Behind them the glass of the coffin repaired itself.

oooOOOooo

"Master Snape, over here!"

Caelum had had to stop his body's automatic reaction at seeing this near perfect copy of his lover but lots of meditation and time spent with his children had readied him. He was as ready for this meeting as he could be. At least this time it was happening with his conditions.

"Mister Black." His voice was smooth and any hint of an emotion was completely hidden. Caelum motioned for the other chair, his eyes never leaving Severus. He noted the differences to Sev again but this time the shock wasn't as great. He was dealing even though hearing the deep voice again had emotion pooling in his stomach.

"Thank you for meeting me," he started as soon as the man was comfortably seated. "I know with the approaching start of term you must be busy."

"Quite," Severus drawled. Caelum didn't catch his smile in time and saw an eye brow arch in silent question. He ignored it.

"The reason I requested this meeting is the same I stated the first time we met – in those unfortunate circumstances. As my brothers' class mate you certainly knew them." The mage thought he detected a slight tensing in Severus' shoulders but kept going, "Regulus, especially, as he was in your House."

Dark eyes searched him for a moment and the waiter came to take their order during the brief silence. His skin was prickling and the desire to simply draw the man in his arms and kiss him to find out if he tasted the same was overwhelming. But he couldn't do that, not without an explanation. Patience was a virtue and he could afford to be patient. Even if, in the end, nothing came out of it.

"It has been a long time, and unfortunately my memories of your… brothers coincide with the war that I do not care to remember." Finally, and it was such a Slytherin answer.

"I understand." Caelum wondered how much he should say. "With my past I can understand the need to forget. But I am trying to know my brothers. The other died Marked by the Dark Lord-" That caused surprise to briefly flicker in the depths of Severus' eyes. Without knowing the man before him as well as he did Caelum would not have noticed. "-and the other sits in Azkaban, convicted of a crime he did not commit."

Severus did not disappoint. He put down his cup with just a little more force than was necessary and his face blanked frighteningly fast. Caelum kept his pose relaxed, not indicating in any way that he understood the impact of his words. He knew Severus was having a dilemma at the moment.

"You imply that… Black is innocent."

A statement, not a question. Answers always cost something to Slytherins but now it was up to Caelum to answer. He didn't mind.

"Hmm…" He mulled over his next words and used the time to look around them. This was a nice little cafe-restaurant in Hogsmeade. The Wizard's Wish was family owned, the café consisting of the Ground Floor and the restaurant being on the First Floor. It catered to customers who valued their privacy and all tables had privacy wards around them. Not infallible but impressive nonetheless. Caelum had found out about the place from Lucius who had also been the one to arrange Severus and his meeting from the shadows.

"We Blacks value family," he eventually continued, ignoring the intense stare though it made his skin tingle. "No matter how warped those values become, they still exist. Sirius abandoned his birth family for another and then supposedly betrayed them as well. He would have been alone with the Dark Lord. From everything I've gathered, a man such as him would not have joined the Dark because of power. He would not have gone to the Dark Lord without telling his family and he didn't. Makes one wonder…" He noticed his tea was gone and put the cup down. Would this Severus take the bait? Knowledge such as this was important and Severus – no matter which – knew it. The man gave in.

"And Pettigrew?"

"If he didn't betray the Potters, someone else must have. And he goes after Pettigrew. Of course, apparently Sirius killed the man and lost his mind. So that is one crime he is guilty of even if it was done under mental pressure and quest for revenge." Caelum shook his head. "Too bad I cannot even get to see him. The Ministry got scared when I started poking and put a block on the case. Of course… I do not know any curses that would leave only a finger left."

He let Severus mull that over. With this he had done everything he could for Sirius legally. Harry would be gone in a week and Zahra could take care of herself so he was free to try and break the man out. But Severus in his world had been the Light's spy in the Dark Sect and had a habit of reporting to Albus Dumbledore before the old man's death. There was a small chance that the Potions Master would do so here as well and then Caelum might have the Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump playing right into his hand. It would even look better to the masses if Dumbledore was the one to get Sirius out.

Caelum might have hated the man but he also understood the value of political clout. Even though this was a long shot, he was not risking much by trying.

"But tell me… What makes a man of your talents settle for a teaching position when he could have been a celebrated Master in the Potions circles in Europe?"

"I thought this meeting was about your brothers," was the quick, nearly snarky reply. Caelum smiled slightly.

"Ah, yes. But in my new position as a governor I have to admit that getting to know the faculty of the school I govern is one of my perceived responsibilities. I have heard a rumour that you would rather teach Defence, as a matter of fact, and focus on your Potions research on your own time. Is this true?"

Severus had tensed in his chair at the mention of rumours before forcing his body to relax. Too bad even the most successful actors had trouble with controlling their shoulders. They were one of the most expressive parts of human body and there still remained some tenseness between Severus' shoulder blades. "Rumours are often born with specks of truth in them," was the Slytherin answer. Caelum settled for that. They waited in comfortable silence while the waiter refilled their cups and Caelum continued after he had left, "And Regulus?"

Severus' eyes seemed darker than usual which was a clear sign his thoughts were not on pleasant things. Usually the Gryffindors paid with detentions and points whenever his lover had been in this mood but he did not know this version of him well enough. It made him wonder and the need arose in him again. He squashed it mercilessly.

"Regulus was two years below me in Slytherin. He was everything a pureblood heir should be and filled the expectations of his family."

"He filled the role Sirius never even tried to fit," Caelum supplied.

"Quite." The long fingers were resting against the edges of Severus' cup. Caelum glanced at them but forced himself not to stare. So similar, yet so different.

"He was quiet, observant. He saw more than people gave him credit for." The older man paused to think. "I think I remember him enjoying Ancient Runes and Charms the most and he often helped people with them. I do not know anything else."

Caelum was slightly disappointed but he could hardly expect Severus to open his heart to him in half an hour. There was much work to be done on this front and he did not want to accidentally force Severus to clam up. He needed to play this safe because getting back into Severus Snape's good graces was difficult as hell if you'd already made a bad impression.

"I thank you for your time and everything you have told me." He wanted to find a way to prolong this conversation but Severus looked ready to go and there was nothing he could for him to stay that wouldn't be awkward. So he swallowed his desire and stood up. Severus followed his example. "It has been pleasant." And before his traitorous body could offer a hand to be shaken he bowed his head. He knew what would happen if he were to touch Severus.

"It has been interesting meeting you again, Mister Black." Severus also nodded and left, his robes pillowing behind him. He did not glance behind him even once and obviously expected Caelum to take care of the tab.

"That went as expected." He looked down at his clenched fist and let out a shuddering sigh. His magic was… churning behind his shields, eager to reach out to the other man. It did not see any difference between their dead lover and this other version of him and Caelum had had to restrain himself. How much easier would life be if his magic was not nearly sentient due to the Emerald's intervention?

Leaving some Galleons on the table he made his way out of the café and Apparated to Grimmauld Place. There was much else to be done today.

Today was the day his family would be visiting Diagon Alley.

"Zahra! Harry! We need to apply the disguise and go!"

"Coming!" came Zahra's yell from upstairs, soon followed by a pair of feet pounding on the stairs and not three minutes after his yell was Caelum rewarded with a sight of his children.

They were going as supposed Muggleborns and had dressed for the occasion. While Harry was wearing faded blue jeans and a dark blue college shirt, Zahra had leggings and a white blouse on her. The sun hadn't shown itself yet today and the forecast had promised rain so the long sleeves were necessary. Both children had also gathered their hair out of the way – Zahra had a beanie and Harry a baseball cap.

"Pretty good." He smiled at them and offered Zahra a potion. "To change your eye colour and skin tone. I want no chances taken today." When Zahra's colouring had changed several shades lighter and her eyes had turned the same black Caelum's were at the moment, the man took out his newest wand and began casting. He wove several protections in the children's clothing as well as other charms that were designed to direct attention elsewhere. Nothing as strong as Notice-Not but more subtle in the way they encouraged the watcher not to pay close attention. He debated on the necessity of a glamour but finally added it on both of them. Only small changes but enough to separate Zahra and Harry clearly from their true selves.

"Wicked!" Harry breathed as he looked at Zahra and saw a completely other girl. Caelum quickly magically changed his clothes to fit with his charges' attires and wrapped the veil around his face after taking the potion to reverse his eye colour to their original green. Finally a glamour turned his face to that of a slightly older man with grey on his temples thought not the same man he had used with the Dursleys and Dumbledore. He grinned at the children.

"Shall we?"

The family of three took a cab to Charring Cross Road and went through the Leaky Cauldron. Tom had spotted them the second they walked in and kindly offered to open the gateway to them and directed them to Gringotts since it seemed obvious they were a Muggle family. Caelum politely thanked him and nearly walked into the kids as they had frozen on their spots before the sight.

The mage had to admit Diagon Alley became an increasingly busy place as the new school year approached. Everywhere he looked there were witches and wizards clad in robes and children in less traditional clothing. The mixture of colours and sounds exploded in his face the moment he passed the gate and it shut behind him. Fortunately there were a couple of Muggleborn parents and adults in Muggle clothes as well so he did not entirely stand out in the crowd.

"It's brilliant," Harry whispered, his eyes threatening to pop out. "Kind of like China but better." He cocked his head to the side and his fingers twitched. "Like the air itself is so filled with magic and memories that I could just breathe and see everything."

"Reminds me of the busy bazaars in my childhood," Zahra said, not caring that she spoke on top of Harry. Her eyes were glazed over, seeing so far into the past Caelum could hardly comprehend the time difference. She shook herself and proved that she had been actually paying attention to Harry, "But he is right. The magic is even in the air."

"Come on." The man took a hold of their hands and pulled them with him. "The magical concentration in this area has been so great over the centuries that magic has seeped even into the stones beneath your feet. The District in London is one the biggest magical sites in all of Britain. Only Stonehenge and Hogwarts top this place because they have both been built over the crossing of ley lines. Here the magic has accumulated as more and more magicals gathered here."

"The District?" Zahra questioned, not having heard this explained yet.

"Yes. There's Diagon Alley– the shopping district and then Knockturn that caters to the shadier side of society. Vertical Alley has cafés and restaurants and Floral Alley offers housing for the high and middle class and there are some impressive gardens as well. There are also smaller alleys that run underground and link the major streets and are much more specific in their selection but it is going to sound suspicious if you slip up and mention them in the future by name because most only know of the four big alleys. And the Magical Market."

"I had no idea magical London was so big."

"Most don't. To them it is a place for shopping and meeting friends while there are others that rarely in their lives leave the District because it offers them everything they need. Magical Londoners are a group of their own."

They had arrived before Madame Malkin's and Caelum shooed the kids inside before him. They had to wait for a while to get someone to attend to them but the assistants and Madame Malkin herself were quite efficient. Caelum remembered his first visit in the shop in this world and the way he had coerced the Madame to speak out of turn but refrained from doing so now. It had helped – if only a little – but it was also one little detail he did not think he needed his children to find out about.

What followed the uniforms were the trunks, cauldrons, books, phials, telescopes and brass scales. Finally Caelum sent the children to Ollivander's while he himself made his way to Eyelops Owl Emporium.

There really was an obnoxious amount of people about and Caelum had to twist out of the way of so many people that by the time he'd made it to the store, he was grumbling beneath his breath about the usefulness of certain curses in containing a crowd.

But once inside the man pushed those thoughts away and concentrated on finding what he was looking for. On Harry's birthday he had sent a letter and enough money to buy half dozen owls and reserved Hedwig. Except that now he was beginning to think that perhaps getting an owl for Zahra as well would stop any accusations of favouritism.

"Hello, how can I help you?" a man with an apron asked him, his round glasses making him look as owlish as some of the owls in the store.

"I'm here about a Snowy Owl I purchased a couple of weeks ago. I will also take that… Is that a Tawny Owl?"

The moment the thought about getting Zahra an owl as well had entered his mind, his eyes had landed on this individual. It was almost entirely cream coloured except for the deep brown spots on the tip of its wings and on its forehead.

"Ah. He's one of our own. Actually for VIP deliveries. If I could show you some other-"

"No. Just name your price." Caelum lifted his arm and sent a mental poke in the owl's direction. His dark eyes were soon on him and without a question the owl took flight and landed on his arm. He would be a good owl for Zahra and the air around him certainly reminded Caelum of the ex-Genie.

"Umh… I really- Well, if you insist…"

"I insist. Now, that Snowy Owl?"

In the end it had taken just fifteen minutes for Caelum to collect the owls, buy some treats and convince the shop keeper not to sell him any cages because, really, he had no need for them. So he was free to make his way out of the store and having a glaring owl on each of his shoulders worked as an excellent buffer against the people. The Tawny actually snapped his peak at several wizards that came a bit too close.

Yeah. He was definitely for Zahra.

Caelum couldn't exactly go into Ollivander's for fear of the man recognising him. If the old part-Elf could sense even through all his shields that he used a Staff as his channeler, there was very little Caelum could do to hide. He did not want himself to be connected to Harry in anyway and the kids had been instructed to act like they had just met on the Alley. But from what he could recall, finding his wand had been a long process and if this kept going Caelum might be in for a long wait.

It did take long and when Zahra and Harry eventually emerged both had very serious looks on their faces. Caelum took one look at them and decided that was the end of their outing. He could cook at home and he didn't need anyone accidentally overhearing their conversation.

He sent a mental image of Grimmauld Place into the owls' minds and watched them took off before reaching for his children and silently Disapparating from the spot.

"Citala, there will be two owls coming in. Can you go and guide them here, love?"

His hawk gave a screech and took flight. The mage had Apparated them straight into the kitchen and sat the kids on the chairs while he himself leaned against the counter. Kreacher was preparing tea on the background.

"I imagine this has something to do with your wand being the brother wand to the Dark Lord's?"

Harry nodded miserably and fingered his wand in his hand. Caelum could see the conflict on the boy's face and waved his hand to catch his attention. "These-" Two wands appeared in his hands. "are brother wands. They are the counterparts of my original world and you used the holly one when you shrunk the tea cup." He saw he had both their attention now.

"I have both of the wands and neither of them is evil. It is hardly the wand's fault for what kind of magic it is used. On top of that, I believe Ollivander is making a far too big a deal out of this. There are hundreds of brother wands out there, wands that have the core from the same dragon and unicorn. If one dead dragon yielded only one dragon heart string the species would have died out years ago." He sighed. "I didn't want to tell you about this yet but the connection saved my life a couple of times when I fought against Voldemort. Hopefully you never have to but the main point is this: the wand is yours." He turned to Zahra. "And you?"

The girl had taken off her beanie and shook her currently brown hair free. She pulled out her wand and laid it on the table. "Nothing much. None of the death and doom that Harry got." She looked up and met his eyes. "Ollivander knew what I was. What this body was. I thought he was going to get a heart attack but calmed down pretty quickly. The wand is a dragon heart string and elven wood, one of the few elven wood wands that he had."

"I knew it was a possibility. You did well." He bent over and kissed Zahra's forehead. Taking a look at Harry he saw that the kid was looking at his wand with a calmer air. He turned back to Zahra when the girl snapped her fingers before his face.

"There's just one thing that I really don't get," the Genie started. Caelum raised a brow in a silent question. "Why did I need to buy the Hogwarts equipment as well?"

"Ah." The mage smirked. "You'll see."

A/N: That is it for the time being. By the way, did anyone catch my foreshadowing? Cookies for the first right guess. And I know it's early but Happy Easter people! Remember to review :)