Chapter 36
A few days later Harry was sitting in his living room reading a wad of documents.
Actually he was reading the cover letter from President Lancet. The older man knew Harry would not be interested in technical legal mumbo jumbo and had boiled it all down.
Across from Harry in a wing back chair was Jack O'Neill. Tracey, Daphne and Pansy were doing their homework at the table. Fleur was engaged in a game of chess with Filius and Gemma and Minerva were enjoying a class of brandy by the fire.
"Is he serious about this?" Harry sighed as he waved the letter at Jack.
"Yeah, he's hoping to use it to get legislation on magicals torn down whilst appeasing the prats who want a piece of the stargate." Jack frowned... prats? He'd been in Scotland too long.
"I've got no problems with having scientists and soldiers from the US working with my gang, but... the stargate is a death trap." Harry refused to change his tune on that one. "Even if you don't kill yourself by stumbling into the backwash or an incoming pool, anyone can come through."
"Anyone can come through your portals, if they can reach it. We just need to take the same safety precautions." Jack reasoned. "You've never actually put any thought into securing the stargate for use because you had your portals. Why not put that freaky mind of yours on the task."
Harry winced.
"Jack, please do not use the term 'freak' around Harry." Filius spoke up warningly but without malice or reproach. "He has been subjected to it in the worst of ways."
Jack frowned. "Sorry."
"S'Ok." Harry muttered. "I'm going to go and think about this stuff. Tell the President I'll have a formal letter drawn up but he should start assembling his teams for dispatch to Azkaban."
Everyone frowned as they watched Harry walk out with his shoulders hunched.
"We will finish later, Filius." Fleur nodded to the older wizard.
"Of course my dear."
Without a word the girls put their pens down and followed Fleur out with Gemma.
"For the better part of his early years, before he went to school at age five, Harry didn't know his own name. His 'relatives' called him 'Freak' or 'Boy'." Filius explained with a snarl.
"Shit."
"Language Mister O'Neill." Minerva admonished. She pulled out her wand and conjured a third wing-back chair in front of the fire and a stepping stool for Filius. The two males joined her as she poured them a glass. "Harry will not hold this against you. He simply has to deal with memories he tries to supress."
"Doesn't he have a counsellor he can talk to?" Jack asked with concern. He hated hearing about Harry's early life, every time they told him something new.
Filius chuckled. "He has five very willing and patient sets of ears that are even now attending to him."
"But what about a trained professional?" Jack pressed.
"David Macdonald had him talk to an army counsellor who was briefed on Harry's nature and history." Minerva answered. "After a mere two appointments they stopped. Harry has tried to explain but, we are observers and not sufferers, as Miss Macdonald has pointed out, so we cannot fully grasp the situation."
"Still, it would be better for him if he could... re-associate things like 'freak' with good things." Jack sighed. "'Freak' is also associated with good things in muggle culture. It's rare, but, like when I was trying to joke with him just now..." He trailed off.
They sat in silence for a few moments.
Then Filius let out a chuckle. "He has adapted quite a bit. He no longer shies away from physical contact and he actually provokes Aurora into chasing him with the threat of physical violence."
"She told me about the prank he played on her with the moon." Jack snorted.
Filius and Minerva shared a subtly smirk. Jack and Aurora had become quite inseparable. They weren't dating, but that was simply because they were engaged in the 'Mating Dance', as Harry called it. He'd taken great pleasure in explaining it to Filius, Minerva and the girls by using a thoroughly embarrassed Dudley and Fiona.
"Harry has a horrible history. It spans more than two decades, quite a feat for someone who is only physically fifteen." Filius gave a little giggle. Minerva was less than impressed, considering the subject matter. "Don't worry about it, Jack. He has what he needs. He has friends, family, people who love him, a purpose in life."
"If you wish to do more, I recommend you invite him to accompany your own exploration team when it tickles his fancy." Minerva nodded to the copy of the documents she had made from President Lancet.
"That surprises me, Minerva." Jack looked at her curiously. "I thought you'd be all for locking him in the castle for his own safety."
She answered him as she looked at her half-goblin colleague with narrowed eyes. "It was impressed upon us that Harry deserves to have his own freedoms, especially after he fought so hard and lost so much in ensuring ours."
"Besides, you've been in his lab." Filius said with a mock huff. "There is nowhere on the planet more dangerous!"
"You know this is going to end badly, Albus." Harry grumbled as he adjusted his cape.
"Regrettably, that is the most likely outcome." Albus sighed. "But, we owe it to the people of Britain and ourselves to be the better people and try."
"Albus, our entourage consists of two ascended beings, a widely respected quidditch team of exceeding calibre, the Immortal Alchemist and his wife aaaaannd... four, count them, four phoenixes. If they weren't going to call this fiasco off when they heard that then they certainly won't change their minds now."
"I hate politics." Perenelle added in agreement. "Give me a king or queen any day."
"You prefer dictatorships?" Moros asked in amusement.
"I prefer that there be only one fool whom I have to scare straight instead of a whole government full of them." She buffed her fingernails on her chest in a 'devil-may-care' manner.
"You can denigrate the establishment later. They are about to start." Nicholas interrupted them.
They were currently in Berlin, Germany. They had been 'summoned' by the International Confederation of Wizards to explain their 'blatant disregard for the Statute of Secrecy and the muggle's right to self govern'.
Harry had wanted to respond- fortunately Gemma caught him in time and managed to stop Hedwig from delivering the shrunken box filled with several hundred pounds of Hippogriff manure.
The current Supreme Mugwump, Babajide Akingbade, was Albus' successor.
"Order, order!" The man called out in heavily accented English. "This emergency meeting of the ICW is now in session."
"Emergency? This is an emergency?" Harry hissed at Albus incredulously.
"It is... 'impromptu', for certain, unscheduled, indeed. But there was no mention of an 'emergency' in the summons." Albus frowned.
Akingbade spoke again. "The representatives of Germany, America and Italy have called for this meeting to address concerns regarding Britain's-"
"Great Britain."
There was a lot of muttering at Harry's correction.
"Please, wait until you are called upon before speaking." The man frowned at him.
"Then please ensure you get your facts right before delivering them." Harry countered. "Also, I was not told this was an 'emergency' meeting. To be frank, I'm not pleased that I have been dragged here so rudely and now, under false pretences."
"Sir, please remain silent or you will be escorted from the room."
"You are the ones who demanded I come here!"
"To answer for your crimes you foolish child!"
Harry looked between the Italian representative and the Supreme Mugwump with a raised eyebrow. After a few seconds he asked. "Aren't you going to tell him off for talking when he wasn't called upon?"
"If you would all sit down, I will continue." The man's glare stayed fixed on Harry.
It was only Phoenix's request that convinced him to stand down. Hemi and Sparky were there as well, Hemi was partially there as a bodyguard but also with the blessing of the New Zealand government to show that Harry had their full support. Fawkes had also accompanied Albus... he and Ember were glaring at everyone who glared at Harry.
Ember was on Perenelle's shoulder. She was actually being held in place to prevent her from attacking anyone.
"Now, I will cede the floor to the German representative to state her case."
A tall woman with tightly held blonde hair in a bun stood. "Thank you Supreme Mugwump."
"Why are they all speaking English?" Harry muttered to Albus.
"A long time ago there was a vote. We won." The old man shrugged.
Harry shook his head at the stupidity of wizards.
The woman continued with a fairly decent English accent. "Over the past few years we have received reports that the British Ministry of Magic has been interfering in the muggle government. We believe they were responsible for the death of the English muggle queen.
"More and more muggles are becoming aware of our world despite not having magical blood or relations.
"Further more, and perhaps the most serious, is that they have attacked the American muggles and annexed the magical population. This is no less an act of war in the eyes of the Americans and ours.
"To add to the horrific actions the self-proclaimed 'king' has taken on our planet, he has also begun to attack other planets! He has killed a foreign power, claimed several planets as his own and incited violence against a race of beings that have ruled certain parts of the galaxy for centuries!
"This is to say nothing of his admission of meddling with Time Magic, a highly restricted and regulated field.
"We must take action to stop this tyrant before his greed and bloodlust comes to bear on us all."
She sat down with spiteful look at Harry.
"Does the British representative have a response?" The Mugwump enquired.
Harry stood up slowly with a thoughtful look. He then stared straight at the German woman. "Prove it."
And he sat down again.
There was a rumble of mutterings around the room.
"Mister Potter-"
"King Potter." Albus stood with a grave and displeased look. "His Majesty does not require the approval of his post from this body. That is the joy and duty of Great Britain and her people."
The Mugwump chose to ignore Albus. "We are giving you the opportunity to defend yourself."
"From what? Where are the American wiggles to complain about me? Most muggles don't know about magic. There have been no news reports on the subject.
"Prove I have attacked other planets and such.
"And finally, I never claimed to have 'meddled' with time magic. I stated that I was involved in time travel. I also stated it was completely involuntary and uninformed.
"So... I'm waiting." And he sat down again.
Akingbade turned to the German woman expectantly.
She stood. "We have the testimony from the Americans and some of our own people who have visited Great Britain recently. You have been open about your activities in space but you have never been fully questioned about your use of time travel."
Harry stood again... he wasn't sure it was worth it or if he should just stay seated. "Where are the Americans? Their seats are empty." He indicated the vacant chairs.
"You have them imprisoned!" She said in frustration.
Harry looked at her, completely unimpressed. "If I have them imprisoned, how can you have gotten testimony from them?"
There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence.
Harry decided to put a stop to that particular line. "Unless the Germans and Italians can provide proof of these claims along with the actual claimants, then I have nothing to answer for but am well within my rights to expect an apology."
And he sat down again.
The German and Italian representatives were whispering harshly to each other. Eventually the Italian representative, a dark haired male, stood. "We have several American refugees we can present."
Everyone turned to Harry.
He didn't bother standing up. He just sat there.
"You do not wish to respond?" Akingbade enquired.
"I'm just waiting to see these 'refugees'." Harry remained seated. Actually, he leaned his chair back and plopped his feet on the table.
Albus scowled at him as Penny and Hemi chuckled. Nicholas remained stoic.
Ember managed to take advantage of Penny's distraction and hop off her shoulder and onto Harry's lap. Harry happily began petting and stroking her.
"We cannot reveal these refugees and ensure their safety." The Italian sneered.
"Then you can't prove your claims." Harry muttered loud enough for them to hear. He kept his focus on Ember who was cooing happily.
"How convenient for you." The man said sarcastically.
Harry looked up, Ember clearly grumbled as Harry stopped his fingers. "Look, either you provide proof or I leave. Quite frankly, I can't see the benefit of being a part of the ICW. All it is is a bunch of politicians spewing hot air. I'd bet you lot are to blame for global warming." He added under his breath.
"You see?" The Italian representative gestured at him violently. "He has no respect for our ways."
Harry sighed and picked up Ember, depositing her on his left shoulder. "That right there is the problem. 'Your' ways. You treat us like outsiders and expect us to suck it up.
"I'm leaving. If you ever try and pull something like this again... " Harry shook his head. "Don't."
With a flash of fire, Harry and Ember vanished.
"This was very disappointing." The New Zealand representative spoke up. "In the future, I expect to be notified before hand as to the nature of these meetings.
"When His Majesty consulted my government about this 'summons', our first reaction was disbelief. You had the audacity to call forth one of the leaders of this world as though he were a child. Clearly you know that is not the case as you have accused him of purposefully meddling with time."
The Japanese representative stood and the New Zealand representative ceded the floor to him.
"If you had sent such a letter to our Emperor we would have simply thrown it away and ignored it. We would never have insulted him by informing him of your disrespect.
"You seem to be selectively ignoring the reasons for His Majesty's actions. He was given the city of Atlantis by his ancestors. He earned the throne of Great Britain by passing a series of tests that judged his intelligence, skill and character. He attacked those aliens because they had kidnapped children from his very home!
"Finally, until these American 'refugees' are presented before this body, we should remember that the American Muggle President issued an apology for his people's part in the capture of England's king.
"Had they tried the same thing with our Emperor... we would be at war."
The large room was filled with shouts of 'here, here' and other sounds of agreement and disgust.
"And what will you do when he turns his eye to your countries?" The German woman demanded heatedly. "When he decides that ruling his little islands Isn't enough?"
"You mean the little islands and the various planets?" Came the laughing riposte of the Norwegian representative.
"I believe we need a little perspective here." The Australian representative said seriously as she stood. "How many countries represented here are behind the German and Italian motion?"
China, Argentina and Russia each raised their hands.
"How many had no idea about it or are ambivalent either way?"
Only five countries raised their hands.
"And how many are disgusted with this motion and the treatment of King Harry?"
A sea of hands shot up.
"As you can see, it is not King Harry whom we are concerned about trying to control us... it is you." She sneered at the German and Italian representatives. "How long will it be before you try and control us, send us insulting demands for our leaders to appear before you?"
The French representative stood and the Australian ceded the floor. "Honoured Colleagues, I believe we have settled this matter enough that we can return to our people and apologise for wasting their taxes on this disaster. However, before we do, I would like to put forth an official complaint against the Supreme Mugwump for his despicable attitude and disrespect to a nation and her sovereign.
"He showed clear bias in how he treated the King. Make no mistake, young though he is, he is the final authority of his country and people. Should he choose to withdraw from this body, he can and will."
There was a flash of flame back at the British seats to reveal a teenage girl with ebony hair and a look of superiority in her smirk. "Forgive my tardiness." She said in her most officious voice. "My Lord, High King Harry of Albion, has just appointed me, Pansy Parkinson, as his official representative to the ICW."
"Oh... bugger."
Perenelle laughed gaily at Albus' despair.
The representative of India stood up as the Supreme Mugwump and everyone else seemed speechless. "Welcome, Lady Pansy." He smiled broadly. "We were actually closing these proceedings with a complaint against the sitting Supreme Mugwump put forth by the Commandeur Rene Huppert for his disrespect towards His Majesty, King Harry."
Pansy curtsied towards the French representative who bowed in return. "Merci, Commandeur. Great Britain appreciates your efforts and your respect. We will refrain from speaking on this matter until called upon in the capacity of witness and victim."
"Of course. King Harry has saved a majority of the world from Tom Riddle more than once now. I'm fairly certain he has left out a few times he saved the planet as a whole." The representative smiled knowingly.
"If he has, then he has kept it from everyone." Pansy said firmly.
On the seats behind, Ganos began to glow a brilliant white. "If we are finished here, I believe we will leave." Moros announced.
"If this has been an example of what our legacy has become... we are extremely disappointed." Ganos looked very much the 'disappointed mother'.
Her glow expanded and they vanished with the delegates of Great Britain.
Moros had grabbed Harry, Filius and Ganos and taken them straight to Stonehenge. He had activated a set of hidden runes that hid the ancient structure from others.
"Harry, focus on the power of the country and repair the circle." Moros ordered.
Harry frowned but complied.
Filius watched in awe as the megalithic structure began to levitate and move. Dust flowed up out of the ground and from the far distant horizon and moulded together to create megaliths that had long since vanished.
In a matter of ninety seconds, Stonehenge was as good as new. Just as the Alterans had built it thousands of years before.
"Filius Flitwick, stand here." Moros ordered as he pointed to the ground in front of a free standing, flat slab of rock. "King Harry James Potter, kneel before him."
Filius raised an eyebrow as Harry simply obeyed.
"Take Filius' hands in yours like this." He clasped Harry's hands around his adopted uncle's, his hands so much larger that they covered the half-goblin's wrists as well.
"Harry James Potter, you have passed the tests required to wield the power of Albion. You have proven yourself as a ruler, a protector and a nurturer.
"Albion has flourished and she has grown under your care.
"But there are always greater dangers. Albion is but a part of a whole. That whole is at risk from both the dangers beyond the stars and those upon its surface. Reach out to Albion and through her, Terra."
Filius was bursting with questions, his mind was racing as he tried to comprehend what he was involved in. Then it all came to a screeching stop as he felt a presence. It was powerful, powerful to the point of being oppressive.
But it wanted only one thing from him. The answer to a question. 'Was the child worthy?'
Filius desperately wanted to scream 'no!'. He wanted to make sure that Harry wouldn't be seen as worthy. He wanted to save his beloved nephew from more responsibilities and burdens. He physically tried to move his hands.
Suddenly, the oppressive nature of the power ceased. He was filled with a sense of peace and calmness. But he still felt sad and broken.
The power had its answer and Filius was now no longer in control. All he could do was stand there and witness as veins of white light flowed up Harry's kneeling form, they flowed beneath his skin and clothes, around his head and hair.
Filius grunted as he felt Harry's grip tighten around his hands, he realised that Harry had gone rigid and that he was in great pain and trying hard not to crush his uncle's hands.
The light dimmed and faded, leaving scars where the veins had been... but those too faded after a second.
Harry sagged but managed to maintain his state of kneeling. Filius twisted his hands to hold Harry and lower him to the ground.
"I didn't create the Sword in the Stone legend." Moros said tiredly as he conjured a chair and sat down, Ganos copying him. "Albion did that on her own.
"Magic... it is essentially the catalyst for the ascendance of the Alteran people." He frowned in remembrance. "It isn't magic that lets us ascend, but our... curiosity about magic, it caused us to study this strange energy that we and humans could wield... but we never managed to understand it."
"To this day, we still do not." Ganos agreed. She then gave an unladylike snort. "It was our pride and refusal to acknowledge that we would never understand it that made us turn our backs on it and focus on the ability to ascend. That we could understand."
"I was taking an extreme risk when I descended and began working with magic." Moros frowned. "I wasn't a wizard like Arthur who used magic as an extension of himself. I was a scientist who was experimenting with a volatile substance.
"We created Stonehenge many millennia ago. It was simply an experiment based upon the unusual energy readings we found here. It was the early humans that erected the stones, we merely marked the prominent locations.
"Upon my experiments with magic after I descended, I made a mistake. I do not know what that mistake was, I only know that I had reached the source of the energy. The source of magic. It was not pleased, but it judged me, realised I was not trying to harm it and then chastised me and sent me away." Moros just chuckled at the memory.
"It is worse when you consider that Moros was on the Council. He was responsible for ensuring that our scientists did not breach our ethics." Ganos smirked. "I recall a report about you laying into a scientist who was working on time travel?"
Moros scowled. "That foolish boy." He turned to Harry and Filius who were still resting on the floor. "He wasn't trying to create the equivalent of a time turner. He was making a vehicle that could travel back to any point in time."
"Yeah." Harry croaked, his voice sore. "I found that particular shuttle. It's locked in my private lab."
"I ordered that thing destroyed!" Moros nearly shouted.
"Harry's lab is perfectly safe for now." Ganos assured him.
Moros shifted in his chair. He wanted to argue, but the fact of the matter was... Harry was more thorough than any of the Alterans.
"Anyway, the presence sent me off. But it couldn't stop me from thinking that the presence was probably the best way to combat any attack by the Ori.
"So I came back. And it kept sending me away. Eventually it got fed up and listened to what I wanted to propose. It agreed that it would accept a suitable... 'avatar'.
"That led me to a young orphan, begging and stealing just to survive. Arthur.
"It was years later, he was a man... well, fifteen, so a man by the standards of the time." He added quickly as he realised Harry's physical age. "We came here and found the sword buried in the standing stone... along with about a hundred men trying to pull it out."
"That sounds familiar." Filius chuckled.
"When Harry's counsel announced that he was to retrieve the sword he was challenged by most of the ruling government." Ganos explained for Moros as she smirked. "But as they couldn't even find Avalon, all they managed was to drain their magic and leave Harry well rested to face your tests."
"Well, the sword you now wield is the second generation." Moros explained. "The first was a pure construct created by Albion. The second was created from the broken fragments of the first after it was shattered in battle.
"That sword was made from the strongest substance on Earth and heavily enchanted. But some fool landed in Egypt and tried to claim he was Ra. He'd heard that the Goa'uld had been run off the planet and thought we were easy pickings!
"Unfortunately, the energy weapons he used managed to destroy the sword. It was the only time I stepped in and used my powers."
"It was also what revealed you to the rest of the Alterans." Ganos admitted.
Moros just nodded. "I had little choice. It was act or let the planet fall into slavery once again.
"Anyway, I took the sword and modified it with Alteran technology. I made it with the same genetic coding that all our technology uses and I also made it so that once it was withdrawn from the stone it would bond to the wielder. You won't be able to hand your throne to your children, you'll have to place it back in the stone at Avalon or here. If your children are worthy, they will prove it when they pull the sword."
"How are you feeling Harry?" Ganos enquired.
"Drained. Headache. Probably better to ask me in the morning." Harry sighed. "What was Fil's role?"
"It asked me if you worthy." Filius answered quietly. "I tried to tell it 'no', I didn't want you to have more burdens, but the… 'presence'… it wasn't 'listening' to my words though."
"Terra." Moros spoke. "Where Albion is the 'magic' of Britain, Terra is the 'greater consciousness'. I cannot guide you further in this instance, Harry. I have no idea of how you will interact with her."
"Well, I'm conscripting you back in to the Order of the Round." Harry glared at him. "Consider it penance for ambushing me with this."
Filius got Harry home and he simply dropped him into bed. He was in such a deep sleep that all five girls had to work together to get him out of his clothes.
They enjoyed every damned second.
When Harry awoke he found his bed had been enlarged and the five were draped all over the bed in lingerie which was pretty pointless. Especially as they liked to torture him by sunbathing nude.
He had to admit though, they looked stunning in their nightwear.
Harry silently apparated out from them and prepared for his day, leaving them to sleep in. He needed to do some practice with his magic as he could feel the energy flowing in him.
"Your Majesty, may I introduce you to Captain Doctor Samantha Carter. She was one of the Air Force's brains behind the Stargate Program."
Harry was surprised Jack had managed to say that with a straight face. Especially considering Harry, Ganos and Moros' opinions of the American effort.
Harry, managed to keep his face devoid of any insulting expression… like laughing in her face.
"Your Majesty." She gave a small bow with her cap under her arm.
"Welcome to Azkaban, Captain Carter." Harry responded. "Are you here for research at the castle or exploration?"
"She's been recommended as part of my personal team." Jack answered.
Harry stiffened. "Define 'recommended'."
Jack allowed himself a small smile. He knew Harry wouldn't stand for Jack being foisted with someone he didn't personally choose. "Her file was passed to me along with the others from the Joint Chiefs. I picked her myself."
Harry relaxed. "Ok. I wouldn't mind seeing the files for your team myself, if you can swing it."
"I'll make a request, but I would guess it is just a formality considering we are serving under you."
"I hate breaking the chain of command."
"But not chains in general?" He asked teasingly.
"His Majesty is quite adept at that." Came the older voice of Admiral Roth. "He also excels in management and delegation."
"Oh?" Harry turned to the Admiral. Both of them had been interviewed by the Council of Britain and commended on their work.
"Supreme Commander Thor has sent a message stating that his people wish to form a true alliance. Apparently, the people sent to help them with their Replicator problem have managed to reduce the threat to nothing more than an infestation of pests." He chuckled. "Commander Thor was eager to have more scientific interaction between our people. They have a cloning issue that could see them die out and if nothing else, they want to see what our people would do with some of their unsolved questions of the universe."
"Sounds cool… but Lord Terrence was in charge of assigning those people."
The Admiral smiled. "And you were responsible for assigning him as the head of the Royal Society for Innovation, you chose a man, who, whilst being a wizard himself, saw the potential of non-magicals."
There was quiet scoff and everyone turned to a straight faced Captain.
"You have something to say, Captain?" Jack asked.
"No sir. Nothing sir." She stood at attention.
The three men looked at her curiously, but then turned back to each other.
"Are you planning another excursion soon, Your Majesty?" Roth asked.
"Wanting, yes. Planning, not yet. After Fil, Ganos and Moros did that ritual thing on me yesterday, I need to learn about my magic and Terra's power. I've got far too much to- Captain?"
Again had come the scoff.
"Explain yourself Captain." Jack ordered. "You seem to have a distinct lack of respect for King Harry and Lord Admiral Roth."
Carter seemed a little indecisive… but then decided it was worth it. "I have trouble maintaining respect for anyone who insists on using magic as an excuse for not fully understanding something."
There was a bit of silence.
"What?" Harry asked eloquently.
"I've been briefed on this so-called 'magic'. It is clearly a form of energy manipulation. Calling it 'magic' is a lazy way of claiming to understand it when you clearly haven't studied it enough to identify it."
Again… silence.
"I'll have her shipped home immediately, Sir." Jack stood at attention.
Carter sighed as though she was expecting this. She slowly stood at attention. She was a US Soldier and she would carry herself in a manner befitting her station… but she was entitled to her beliefs and entitled to express them. She'd just have to file a discrimination complaint later.
"Maybe."
So… she wasn't expecting that calculating statement from the boy king. She briefly wondered if he was attracted to her or something.
"You don't think we understand… this 'energy'?"
She looked to the Colonel, she wasn't going to intentionally be disrespectful. Especially if the man wanted an educated debate. It may even lead to being allowed to study this phenomenon herself.
Jack gave a nod.
"There is very little documentation on it."
Harry turned and waved his hand, indicating they should follow him. "You do realise that America has suppressed all knowledge of this 'energy'? Along with the subjugation of those capable of manipulating it?"
"Again, I have been briefed… sir." She added belatedly at the Colonel's glare.
"How much documentation is there on… nuclear energy?" Harry asked as they walked.
"It is well documented. Nearly a hundred years' worth of study has been invested in its discovery and the understanding of the energy and its possible applications."
"Uh huh… and who coined the term 'neutron'?"
Carter frowned. "A US chemist, William Harkins."
Harry led them into a conference room and took a seat indicating for the rest to join him. "Four thousand years. That's how long we've been studying this energy. Four thousand years, cultures, races and species from across the globe.
"Capable of wielding this energy and performing feats that the oldest of races in the galaxy have yet to duplicate without magic.
"Are you really that arrogant that you think only you can find unknown answers about this energy?"
Carter's face turned red despite her passive expression. "No. I did not mean to insult you-"
"This energy runs in my blood. It flowed through my parents, my father's parents and beyond for generations. My entire culture revolves around it.
"If you are as smart as you claim, then you had to know you were being insulting."
Carter wasn't sure how to respond, especially as the boy wasn't getting angry and yelling at her.
"Did you know that one of the projects the Royal Society of Innovation is working on is duplicating this energy and its effects using technology?"
"I did not." She answered quietly.
Harry nodded, his face clearly showed he was thinking. "Let's say that you and I agree that this 'magic' is a form of energy manipulation, is that what you believe?"
She nodded.
"It's been documented for thousands of years?"
She nodded again.
"So… how do you explain the 'neutron'?" He asked with air-quotes.
Everyone looked at him this time. Nobody had any idea why the subject had taken a near one-eighty.
"I- I don't understand."
"Why is it called a neutron? What is the… erm, entymology of the word?"
"Etymology." O'Neill winced as he realised he had spoken. Considering the look of curiosity from Harry and the amusement from Admiral Roth, he elaborated. "'Entymology' is the study of insects. 'Etymology' is the study of words."
Harry just grinned. "You're so smart."
Roth laughed as Jack glared at Harry. "He got you again, Colonel."
Harry had argued that Jack had to be fairly intelligent. The man was US Air Force Colonel and a highly trained fighter pilot. The US certainly wouldn't have sent your basic grunt on the mission to Abydos. So Harry often slipped up on words and pronunciations around Jack to catch him out.
"Anyway, Captain. The etymology of the word neutron." Harry turned to the confused soldier.
"I believe he derived it from the term 'neutered'."
"So... why not… 'Kastreon'? How about 'Chutron'? Those are plays on the word 'neuter' in other languages."
"Harkin was American." Carter said slowly. "He spoke English."
"Did you know that Uranium was named after Uranus?"
Carter shook her head and refocused on the King. She was beginning to wonder if she had been drugged, what with the constant topic changes.
"Sir, I'm not sure I'm following this discussion properly. We were talking about this energy you insist on calling 'magic'."
Jack knew that smile that crept upon his young friend's face. Here came the strike.
"The term neutron was coined by a man about one hundred years ago based on his phrasing of a scientific find. The term uranium was coined a few hundred years ago by a man who probably liked astronomy or Roman mythology.
"You don't have any problems with those terms, despite their origins?"
Carter just shook her head.
"So, why do you have a problem with the term 'magic', that was coined thousands of years ago for reasons that have been lost to the ages?"
Carter huffed. "Magic is the term used for displays of sleight of hand."
"It is now, by non-magicals. But again, for thousands of years both magical and non-magical people have used the term 'magic' to refer to this energy and its use."
Harry sat forward and looked at her sternly. "What gives you the right to come here, to my society and culture, and declare you know better than the billions of minds, far greater than you, that have agreed on this word for thousands of years?"
"Your Majesty?" Roth gently asked. Harry nodded and sat back. "Captain, there are many branches of science. Chemistry, Physics, those names have been widely accepted on our planet. But there are a race of beings out there who have have existed longer than humanity and have evolved their technology beyond what we can barely imagine.
"They often have trouble communicating basic ideas to us because they have categorised the universe in a different way.
"Magic is another facet of the universe, like science to us. If you still wish to remain assigned to my command, you will need to become more open minded about how others view the world."
"And if they are wrong… sir?"
"Prove it. But make sure you can prove it before you start throwing around baseless and derogatory assumptions."
"Are you sure you don't want me to ship her back to the States?" Jack asked as he sat with Admiral Roth and Harry in the Admiral's office.
"Put her on probation." Harry shrugged. "Give her six months and see if she can't adapt and learn."
"Could I have permission to billet her in a fully magical environment? Give her a full immersive experience?"
Harry winced. "Can you imagine her living with pure magical families for more than a day? She'd have insulted them or confused them by lunch."
"I may have a suggestion, Your Majesty." Roth clearly didn't want to make it though. "Hogwarts is a purely magical environment." Harry's eyes narrowed. "But there are plenty of people there who were raised in non-magical environments or both. Sir Dudley and Miss Tonks spring to mind at first."
"And Tonks is about as close to a walking spell as you can get!" Jack added with a grin. He seemed to be on board with this. "Neither of those two would let a walking lab coat like Carter get away with ignorance and hubris."
Harry gave a few dramatic sobs. "Just don't get me in trouble."
"Harry, you know that female soldier from America?"
"Oh god, Dud, it hasn't even been four hours yet! She can't have gotten into that much trouble!"
Dudley chuckled as he took a seat opposite Harry at the desk in his office. "Well, she does seem a bit wary after Tonks morphed to look like her and then proceeded to give a speech on how all magicals are devil worshipping pagans who have been led astray from the true way of science and technology."
"You did tell Tonks not to kill her right?"
"Harry, Tonks is about as close to a pure magical being as a human get. Carter is pretty much calling Tonks a mutant without using the actual words."
"Wh-"
"I mean in general. She's polite and all."
Harry put his pen down. "Ok, answer me plainly. Is Carter pissing Tonks off or is Tonks pissing Carter off?"
Dudley had to think for a moment. "Both. But Carter doesn't think she is doing it whilst Tonks is doing her best to do it."
Harry's eyes went slightly cross-eyed at that sentence.