Chapter 35: Like Father, Like Son

At the annual Potter Christmas Party, Harry pulled Ginny aside while Molly was hugging Taran.

"Considering how Taran hates being too social," Harry said. "Do you think this is worth two weeks?"

"Yeah." Ginny agreed as she watched her son's shyness starting to catch back up to him. "This is punishment for him, being forced to socialize."

The parents watched as Anna came to Taran's rescue as kind of a repayment for saving her life. It wasn't to the same scale, but Taran was grateful nonetheless.

"Uh oh." Ginny said looking around.

"Don't say that." Harry groaned. "It's Christmas."

"Not that." Ginny said. "Flattail, Bucktooth, Tara, Matt, Austin, and Sabrina are up to something."

Sure enough, the six in question were huddled in a corner planning something and laughing quietly.

"Let them." Harry said. "That lot hasn't pranked since the incident."

"Fine. But don't expect me to eat anything." Ginny said before muttering. "I just knew those brothers of mine would corrupt my innocent Tara."

George then took his wand and pointed it in the air just above Taran and Anna who were talking. They started to go their separate ways, but were stopped by a barrier. The whole room then turned and filled with laughter. Simultaneously, Taran and Anna looked up and then turned glares at the six responsible for the mistletoe above them. Fred, George, Tara, Matt, Austin, and Sabrina just waved innocently.

After a quick peck on Anna's cheek from Taran, the barrier subsided and they marched over to the culprits.

"You lot know I don't like to be rushed." Taran said quietly. "Let alone do things like that in public."

"Hey. It worked." Tara pointed out.

0000

Much later that night,

Harry and his wife and kids (as well as the Conways) had gone back to Proteus Place that night after the party. Most of the house was asleep. Tara and Anna were asleep in their separate beds in the same room with Anna having a peaceful dream. Peter and Hallie were also asleep in the guest room glad to have been a part of one of the best Christmases ever. Even Dobby was curled up in his bed in the basement (his choice).

Harry and Ginny were asleep in their own bedroom with Harry's arm draped around Ginny, when the bedroom door creaked open. Harry's eyes remained closed as he came back into consciousness. He observed the sound of the steps and the breathing.

"Dad?" The visitor asked in a low whisper.

Harry sat up and grabbed his glasses. He noticed Taran standing nervously in the doorway.

"Taran?" Harry asked quietly so not to wake his wife. For a time, his boggart had been Ginny after not getting enough sleep. "What's wrong?"

"Couldn't sleep." Taran admitted.

Harry got out of bed and put on his nightrobe.

"Let's talk in the kitchen." Harry said.

A few minutes later, Taran was seated at the kitchen table and Harry was going to the table with two glasses of milk.

"What's on your mind?" Harry asked his son after he sat down and placed one of the glasses in front of his son.

"I'm sorry I acted before I was ready." Taran whispered.

"Taran." Harry said placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "We've been through this already. With the information you had, I would have done the same. Besides, you wouldn't believe the number of times I've jumped into things before I was ready. The trap door on the Third floor corridor, the Chamber of Secrets, going after Sirius…"

"Yeah, but you got out of those alive." Taran argued.

Silence

"Taran." Harry sighed. "There's something you need to know."

"I hate conversations that start like that." Taran whispered.

"Remember when your mother and I told you about the incident with the Chamber?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Taran said. "You killed the basilisk and saved Mum."

"We left out a detail." Harry said placing his hand over the spot the fang had pierced his arm.

He then pointed his hand up the stairs and concentrated. The pensieve and a vial with a memory in it came floating down the stairs before resting on the table.

"We'll just look in instead of jumping in." Harry said putting the memory in the pensieve. "You're old enough to see this now."

Taran looked into the pensieve and saw his father as a twelve year old wielding a sword and swinging it at the eyeless basilisk. Then, Harry ran the sword through the roof of the snake's mouth. Taran watched in horror when he saw the basilisk fang pierce his father's arm. He took his eyes off of the memory and looked at his father for confirmation that the memory was real.

"You nearly died?"

Harry nodded before adding, "I wouldn't be hear today if it wasn't for Fawkes. The phoenix tears saved my life. The point I'm trying to make is, even though I got out alive, there were always some very close calls. That had been the closest of them all in my opinion."

"So…running into danger runs in the family?" Taran asked.

Despite himself, Harry had to smile at the observation and nodded.

"Dad." Taran said. "Iago's after the Deathly Hollows. His plan is to kill the 400th Heir with the Elder wand. Only thing is, he didn't know that I was the 400th Heir of all of them. He's going to try to figure out which of the others are the Heirs even though they're only backup heirs."

"Thank you for tell me." Harry told his son. "But we shouldn't have to worry about that too much. Dumbledore's wand is the Elder wand and he had died a peaceful death before coming back."

"That's the thing." Taran said. "When I accidentally brought him back, it reactivated the power of the wand."

"And the third hollow?"

"In my possession." Taran confirmed. "And for a time, it had been in yours."

"The cloak which you left in my office?" Harry asked.

Taran nodded.

"No wonder it was so old." Harry whispered to himself.

"Dad." Taran said to his father. "I want you to train me."

"What?" Harry asked not sure if he heard right.

"You have experience fighting a Dark Lord. Yet this is my fight. Please Dad. With you as my couch, Iago doesn't stand a chance."

"I'll think about it." Harry said. "I'm not too sure I want you fighting after what happened last time, but I'll consider it."

0000

The next day,

"May I ask what is so funny?" Harry asked his father, godfather, and Defense Professor as they fell off their chairs laughing when Harry asked their opinions about coaching Taran.

"I always hoped this would happen." Remus said laughing

"WHAT?!" Harry demanded.

"Let me explain what Moony means," Sirius said.

Flashback

It was just after Harry went to bed after the battle with Voldemort.

"Well, I'm glad THAT'S over." Lily sighed.

"No it's not." Sirius said. "if there is some type of danger, Harry will discover it and take it upon himself to make life safe."

"Just like me and his grandfather." James added.

"You know." Remus said looking at the door Harry had just went out. "I hope he has a son one day who is JUST like him. That way, he'll know what we're going through."

End Flashback.

"Now you know why we worry about you." Sirius told his godson.

0000

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in!" Taran called from his bed not looking away from the textbook he was reading.

The door opened and Taran looked up. He gave a small smile when he saw his father standing in the doorway with a hand behind his back.

"I've thought over your request." Harry informed his son. "I even asked for others' opinions. Your mother feels the same way I feel about it. Since apparently you are the only one who can defeat Iago like I was the only one who could defeat his father, I will train you."

"Thanks Dad." Taran said. "I won't let you down."

"You better not." Harry said with a serious look. "Letting me down would mean your death by Iago's wand…again. I have from a reliable source he thinks Tara's is the 400th heir. If anything happened to both of you, I'm going to need a private ward at St. Mungos as will your mother. And if you die again, the potion won't work next time."

"I won't die again." Taran swore with a determined look that was only seen by those closest to him.

Harry smile and then pulled his hand from behind his back to reveal an ancient book.

"For the next month," Harry told his son. "I want you to read this book. Then we'll set up some practice time when I'm not tutoring the other students."

"Thanks Dad." Taran said taking Julia Gryffindor Potter's book from his father.

"I'll even go as far as to train Tara, Matt, Austin, Sabrina, and Anna." Harry added. "If they're anything like my friends, stopping them from fighting will be harder than training a full grown Hungarian Horntail to sit on command."

TBC

"Are you okay?" Tara asked her twin.

Taran nodded.

Tara was confused. She was one of the few people he would speak openly to. In fact, EVERYONE in the room were people he would speak openly to.

"He's a little embarrassed about a temporary side effect." Harry explained