The desert was a harsh place to those that lived there, especially the deserts of Egypt. The cities there do thrive, with people originally grouping together for mere survival. Though, in each there are a section of people that cut themselves off from others.
Yet some still live out in the desert proper, living off the land and learning the harsh skills needed to survive. There are only a few sets of these people, different caravans that continue to roam the land, learning of what used to lay beneath the sands.
Each child is taught a separate skill set used to band together and survive, one might become their new leader, another something as lowly, yet still useful, as a grounds keeper. Trackers, Skinners, Hunters, and Water Gatherer's are all trained to work together for the good of the Caravan.
Some leave when they're old enough, to seek their fortunes in the cities, others just go there to trade or work and bring back supplies to aid their moving homes.
Almost all are loyal, those that are not are always dealt with by a specific individual.
The Dancer is a the shadow beneath the light. Neither Good or Evil, she just is. Trained nearly from birth, the Dancers are eccentric in some ways, but powerful figures wrapped up in myths and legends of those in the Desert. They are few an far inbetween and only a handful know of them, even less know the truth.
Break
A wizened old man with a beard down to his knees was dressed very oddly for someone that was in the desert. His clothing consisted of layers of differs types of multi colored fabrics and designs interlaced throughout. He was definitely not from around, yet knew exactly what he was looking for as he created a dune of sand looking off into the distance. He knew how to navigate and walk the sands despite his advanced age.
It took him several minutes, but he made it to his destination and walked slowly into the camp with open palms to show he had no visible weapons. Of course, this meant nothing to the people watching with guarded gazes.
"I seek The Lady." He finally spoke when near enough.
One of the men narrowed his eyes and snapped something off in a different language, the second running off quickly. All the while the old man stood there, not any sweat even on his brow despite the sun.
Eventually an old woman, seemingly guarded by the man that ran off hobbled over. She barked a few things in the same language and both men stood down. "Albus." She finally murmured. "Never thought I'd see you again."
"Quite true. It has been a while, hasn't it?" Albus responded almost jovially.
"Well, come on." The old woman waved him after her as she tuned around and stalked back to her tent. "Why have you sought me out? I am an old woman."
"I...well, you see, I need your services once more." Albus responded almost sheepishly.
"I'm not as spry anymore, Albus." The woman barked a harsh laugh as she led him inside a large tent placed over the sand with a table and a couple chairs within. "I wouldn't be able to protect your back anymore."
Albus chuckled again and shook his head as he sat down. "Not for me personally anymore. Thankfully. No I need protection for a student under my care."
"A student? How old is this child?"
"He will be turning fifteen during the summer."
The woman stared a moment. "I think that might be even worse."
Albus nodded slowly. "I am the Headmaster now, it's been a few decades and...well."
"Your Dark Lord is back, hm? Very well, I might not, but we do have another that could take my place."
Albus grimaced a little at that. "Well, it's not quite what I hoped, but it'll have to do. Who is it?"
"A foundling we found in the desert. She is our Dancer despite her age." The woman eyes Albus. "I'm sure you remember what that means."
"I won't tell a soul. It is why I am here by myself despite other demands by those I know." Albus shrugged faintly. "You have my oath on it."
"Very well. she has a minor talent, like I did, she may even have use of one of those sticks you carry. She will not be unprotected and she will do what is necessary to complete her tasks." She turned to the flap of the tent and started to bark orders in a different language.
"i'll have her meet with him when we get back then, I we could leave straight from here?"
"Perhaps, though you will owe me the memories of her reactions." The old woman cackled.
A minute later, a teenage female that was, to Albus especially, very under dressed. A bikini top an bottom, unlike the robes most wore to protect them from the sun an heat. Her skin was a dark bronze, and she wore jewelry all over her body. Even her feet were bare save the fabric and anklets she wore. Her hair was blonde, bleached by the sun yet very healthy and taken care of with braids and ornaments strewn throughout. Her indigo gaze was sharp as she took in Albus and then passed him on and glancing toward the old woman and chattering quickly.
The old woman held a hand. "English, child."
"English?" The girl asked with a heavy accent. "Righ'. Y'called?"
"Indeed. This is Albus, an old friend of mine."
"Tha' righ'? Fancy ah s'pose. Wha' y'need me t'do?" The teen asked, tilting her head and letting the tenseness of her body fall.
"Albus, this is Selena. Selena, Albus here has a job for you to do."
"Job? Ain't been back fer a week an' y' wan' me t'go again?" Selena blinked slowly. "A'igh', if y'say so Gran."
"Excellent." Albus said as he stood, pulling out a small bag and a piece of rope. "Your payment m'dear, half in advance like last time."
"Selena, this is a longterm bodyguard mission, you will protect him as you see fit, within reason."
"Ain't like 'e'll be m' firs'." Selena shrugged faintly.
Albus paused a little as he seemed to think of something. "Is it possible to pay a little more so you could show Harry how to defend himself?"
"'Arry?" Selena cocked a blonde eyebrow before turning to the old woman. "Ah, s'pose so."
Another small bag joined the first. "If that is all, perhaps you should pack. We are of to England."
"Guardin' a boy named 'Arry, up in England? T'bloody 'ell. Ain't tha' jus' a bloody joke." Sel shook her head amusedly. "S'pose m'clothes ain't gonna cut it."
"Not the weather you'll be used to." Albus agreed. "Winter too, don't worry, we'll get you some clothes when we get there too."
Ten minutes later Selena had a rucksack of things she needed and added a skirt to her clothing to not seem indecent to the more prudish in England. "It was good seeing you Albus."
"You too. I'll be back in a year with the rest and Selena here." Albus nodded with a faint smile. "Take hold of the rope and we'll be off."
"T'rope?" Selena deadpanned and shook her head. "Fine."
"Surrey." Albus said with a faint smile and the two disappeared with a small pop of displaced air.
The old woman shook her head as she looked at the spot the two had just been standing. "Wizards." A rueful chuckle escaped her lips as she went back about her day.
Break
The whirling sensation suddenly stopped and Selena twirled to a stop, rolling with the sensation as she went down in a crouch to steady herself and get her baring sorted. The disorientation rolled to a stop as she took a breath and centered herself. "T'soddin' fuck?"
"Portkey." Albus said, amused a little at her atrocious language and accent. "It allows one or more to travel great distances within a few seconds." he paused as the blonde stood slowly, wavering only slightly. "You get used to them the more you use them."
"Ain't no fuckin' way." Selena said flatly.
"Only once more and you won't have to for another month plus. Floo might e more your thing." Albus shrugged. "Let's go meet Har..."
The air suddenly went very cold despite the sun shining brightly. There was no wind, but there was a sensation of something wrong.
"Dementors." Dumbledore whispered and looked at Selena who had gone rigid. "We must find Harry. Now." Pulling out his wand for the first time, he laid it aloft in his hand. "Point Me Harry." He intoned, the wad swerving in a circle before pointing in a single direction. "This way."
Albus took off running and Selena easily kept pace, though she reluctantly followed at the same time. There was something off about the way they were going.
She quickly noticed why as Albus waved his wand suddenly and a giant silvery bird flew out of the tip and sped off in front of them and around the corner at the same time she heard a voice shakily call out "Expecto Patronum a few times.
They rounded the corner an Selena saw two floating cloaked...things, both trying to flee away from Albus' silver bird. A rather large boy was laying on the ground, breathing heavily and another was pressed up the wall, his own wand raised in a protective manner. Both cloaked monstrosities looked like they would attack but soon enough fled the area.
"Watch over them." Albus ordered quickly. "I've to make sure they don't attack anyone else and report this."
Selena nodded carefully and went I've to help the two younger teens. "'Arry." Selena whispered as she crouched down besides the one leaning against the wall.
"Sel? W-what are you doing here?" Harry stammered out, looking around wildly. "Shit, I can't be asleep right now, Dudley's in trouble."
"Ain't asleep boyo." Selena smirke md a little and hefted Harry up so e was standing.
"You're...really here?" Harry blinked and chuckled a little. "Hah. Vindication."
"Righ', s'pose ya ain't t'only one t'feel tha' way." Selena shrugged a little. "Now move yer scrawny arse. Ain't've all day t'ge' safe." She moved over, hefting up Dudley with one fell swoop and supporting her over shoulder. "Go on, lead t'way."
"Right." Harry blinked a few times, his wand out and started to lead them back to the Dursley's.
(A little time later, back in Harry's room. Some details lost in transfer.)
Selena shook her head a little at Harry's misfortune to call down on Murphy and decide to tease him a little. "So you're locked in your room with a total hottie. What do ya plan on doing."
He mock leered after her before blushing and laughing. "Hoping she doesn't kick my arse for being an arrogant berk?"
"That a question or a statement?" She laughed as Harry scratched the back of his head.
"Er...statement."
Selena rolled her eyes as she leaned back a little and arched her back while Harry was watching her. Yep, his eyes were fighting to not stay glued to her chest. She'd have to work on that, both to get him to focus and for her so as to not fall out of practice.
Easier to off someone when they're to busy staring at her breasts after all.
"Focus a bit." Selena absently reminded him before pulling out a dagger and swiftly throwing it at the teen.
Harry easily caught it and threw it back just as fast. "Yes ma'am."
"None of that ma'am shit here." Selena snarked as she caught the dagger and threw it and a second one fiercely at his face. "Yer up to practice with this at least."
"I chase after a golden pingpong ball while going at speeds in excess of sixty miles an hour, I should at least be able to catch a couple knives going nowhere near that fast." Harry responded dryly as a third knife was juggled between them.
"Wizards don't use metric?" Selena asked, rather unsurprised at that revelation.
"Mhm. It's a bit of a pain using the Imperial System after learning metric in Primary." Harry shrugged a little as he quickly grabbed a piece of paper and scrunched it up, Adding it to their slightly dangerous game of juggling just to see if he could offset Selena.
It didn't work of course since instead of catching it, she just batted it back with her other hand while catching a dagger. "Nice try boyo."
"I'm not a boy." Harry mock pouted as they continued to throw knives at each other from across the room while batting the paper back and forth finally slowing to a stop about five minutes after the impromptu game began. "You're only a couple years older than I am."
"Seniority means y'do as I say." Selena smirked as she stashed her knives somewhere on her person. "Your coordination is decent, y'need to go faster though."
"It's easier to do like this." Harry admitted honestly. "I've been trying to juggle too, but I can't really own anything in this place so I make do."
"Books?"
"Bound the covers. But harder than just balls and proper knives...but..."
Selena nodded slightly. Good for reflexes an dealing with shoddy gear, but she'd have to get him a proper set. "Locks?"
"I can do this door in about twenty seconds." Harry responded automatically. Two seconds for a civilian lock want bad after all. "Haven't had a chance to try anything harder what with being on lockdown and all."
"Stealth?" Selena continued to ask one word questions.
"They don't see me unless I want them to, and that's when I'm working on my speed while running." The teen recited blandly.
"Good. The moment we get a bit of freedom, you need to look up Parkour. It'll help with your running and give you a better sense of awareness, especially when you need to make a getaway." Selena's voice was dry asks almost mocking.
"Parkour?" Harry hesitantly asked.
"The French Martial Art of Running Away."
Ah. That's why.
"Past that, it is a useful thing to learn, it helps your awareness, you keep looking for ways to move. Learning can be painful, misjudging a jump can be very dangerous since many use rooftops to run." Selena lectured like she normally did while Harry sat attentively an learned like he had for years now.
They were the first friends each original had, even if it was just in ther dreams and imagination. It was a bit surreal seeing each other at first, but like when Sel was first learning to be a Dancer, they quickly move past that. She taught and he learned and they shared their experiences, even his learning of magic.
"I wonder if they even realized they locked you in here with me?" Harry absently asked.
"Who cares?" Selena rejoined. "Now off with your shirt."
"Why Sel, are you flirting with me?" Harry joked as he did as such.
"If you were only that lucky." Selena responded as dry as the desert she was raised in. With a twirl of her finger, she got Harry to turn on the spot. "Not bad. Could be better though." she privately admitted that the teen was attractive in a slightly scrawny kind of way. The scars just an chances that and he did have a decent tan going too. She knew he was stronger than he looked as well. "Do what exercise you can right now. I need to think."
Harry nodded as he did so, dropping down and doing various exercises, ending off with pushups as Selena sat on his back cross legged.
"Come on, boyo. It's only a hundred, yer almost there." Selena had started taunting him in the eighties.
"It'd be easier if you got your bony arse off of me." Harry snarked back.
"You're just happy you have my hot ass even touching you." Selena taunted some more as she shifted in a slightly more comfortable position. She smirked a little as she saw Harry blushing down to his neck, mentally crowing at the thought that as still could make him flush with her words alone. Of course, he was also her test bed for things like that since he had grown accustomed to it in their dreams.
Her saying it while as was sitting on his back in person was a completely different ball game though.
"Boy!" A voice interrupted just before Harry finished.
"What?" Harry called out as he went through the last five.
"Get down here and start supper!"
Selena got off his back and rolled her eyes. "Did they forget they locked the doors?"
"They usually do." Harry's voice was sour as he leaned tried to open the door and make sure. "Unlock the bloody door first!" He hollered finally before whispering under his breath. "Only two more bloody years of this."
"Why haven't you just moved out again?" Selena absently asked while pushing hair out of her face.
"Wards." Harry responded distastefully. "As much as we hate each other, I don't wish them dead. I stay here to keep myself and them protected." he continued on as the door was unlocked and opened to Vernon's glare.
"Boy!" Vernon started before becoming visibly flustered at what he saw to e a half naked girl in the same room as his nephew who was working up a sweat while not wearing a shirt. "Get downstairs ad start on dinner." Ge was oddly and visibly calmer though still purple faced.
Only Sel caught the muttered comment from Vernon as Harry quickly brushed past the man with shirt in hand. "Least the boy isn't a bloody poofter too." he then turned on Selena and growled out. "Who are you, not one f those Freaks are you?"
"Freak?" Selena asked with an arched eyebrow. "Hardly. I am his bodyguard for the next while however. Paid in proper money and everything."
Vernon snorted and turned away suddenly, stomping down the stairs and leaving the door wide open. He didn't realize 'proper' money meant straight gold.
"Stupid bigot." Selena finally muttered as she decided to explore the rest of the house quietly then making her way down to the kitchen where Harry was frying up Dinner. A glance out the window was followed by a frown. "Creepy."
"What?" Harry isn't even look as he started the bacon.
"Someone on the lawn. Invisible." That got a frown. "They're within those wards on the property though." Selena continued absently. "Just the one I think." Did that old coot not think she could do her job properly or something.
"An invisible person on the lawn, just watching the house?" Harry asked flatly. "You're right. Creepy. Can you set the table? Plates are up there and forks and knives are in there."
Selena did as asked, looking out the windows when she could, making sure to glance at the grass. Whoever it was wasn't a complete incompetent at least. They were patrolling, but negative marks for walking on the grass. Especially such uniform grass where one could see indentations like that. Doubly so when the wind was blowing in the opposite direction.
Supper was a mostly quiet affair with everyone sitting at the table with a spot for Selena. she out and out told them she wasn't a Witch or whatever, and was simply Harry's new bodyguard and teacher. Especially since he was more famous after winning an international tournament. Selena lied glibly and freely through her teeth with a pleasant smile. Her atrociously bad accent also been replaced with something a little more civil and refined.
After the cleaning, Selena made sure none of the locks on Harry's door worked and went to the bathroom and had an hour long bath after a quick shower for the sheer pleasure of being allowed to soak and get the dust and sand of the desert off her body.
It was heavenly and most of all very relaxing and relieving. She felt blissful as she finally got out and got dressed. When she finally made her way to Harry's bedroom, she was amused to see him using his chair as a balance point while his Snowy owl watched on with what seemed to be an amused glint in her eye.
The door was opene and closed quietly as Harry kept his balance on the tilted forward chair with a single foot raised slightly. He was going about the balance practice painfully slow, but that in of itself had it's merits. A slow twist of his body and then a roll of his shoulders sent his chair back to the normal position and Harry then quickly stepped down from the char and sat in it.
"Not bad." Selena finally commented. "You did the handstands already, yes?"
"Yeah, I was just finishing the exercise. I started just after you got into the bath." Harry nodded and concluded with a smile.
Selena's eyes flickered to the clock and nodded. "Good. Keep it up for the rest of the time we're here."
"Can't do much in the way of running though." Harry reminded.
Selena sighed a little. "And no doubt there'll be no way at this other place." She shot him a sly look. If only he was just a bit older, that's certainly be a way to pass time. "When's your birthday? Ain't 'ad a chance t' find the date lately."
"A couple of weeks." Harry shrugged a little. "Why?"
"I'll be able t' give ya a proper gift this year." Selena smiled a little, grinning inwardly at the faint shake of Harry's head and the blush on his face as he tried to deny it being anything important. "Trust me, you'll love it."
Break
The days quickly passed for the two; Selena kept Harry busy learning some more tricks of the trade as it were and they both continued to avoid the Durlseys as much as possible.
Selena flirted with Harry mercilessly, trying to get him over the semi-she state he was around the female gender while Harry fought to keep control of his hormones. It was a two way battle and was part of Selena's training for the two of them. It didn't help Harry that Selena was wearing her usual clothing of a bikini and jewelry.
Though Harry always was wondering how she could move so silently with all of the gold rings on her ankles and arms. Shouldn't those jingle with movement?
Though Harry was getting severely annoyed with the lack of letters from his friends, or even a call from Hermione.
Finally, Harry's escort showed up in the Order of the Phoenix and several of their members.
Break
"Wotcher, Harry." A voice called as Harry's door opened suddenly. "I'm here to pick you...what." the voice came to a sudden halt in confusion.
Harry sat on one side of the bed a scowl on his bright red face, a pile of his own clothes sitting next to him while he was only wearing a pair of boxers. In his hand was a set of cards and he sat across from Selena who had a broad smirk on her own lips as she herself held a few cards. There were no clothes beside her, but she was dressed as she usually was, rather scantily at that.
Selena snickered at the dumbfounded look on the one who just walked into the room. "Lucky you Harry. The escort is here."
"Stuff it." Harry mumbled, scowl an blush on his face. "Get out of here do I can get dressed."
"Prude."
"Slut."
Selena laughed as laid down her cards, face up and Harry groaned, shooting a thankful look to the bewildered witch in the room. "Perfect timing Tonks. Now shoo." He made a dismissive motion with his hand as Selena tugged Tonks from the room
Tonks rounded on Selena as soon as the doorways shut. "And who're you?"
A raised eyebrow was the majority of the response. "Well ain't that amusin'. Sel's the name. Boyo's bodyguard. And you are?"
Tonks noticed the slightly shorter blonde had gone completely tense in her presense, ready to spring and attack no doubt. "Auror Tonks. Harry's escort to Headquarters."
Selena nodded as she reached out to smack the door. "Harry," she started to say as the door opened before her fist made contact. "You've everything?"
"Yes ma'am." Harry drawled.
"Pick up the pace." Selena drawled right back and smacked him upside the head before either Tonks or Harry could react. "An' none o' tha' ma'am shite or I'll kick your ass."
"Arse." Harry corrected absently as he dodged the second blow to the head only to be kicked in aforementioned area. "...hey!"
Selena just directed a cool glaze and Harry paled a little before bounding down the stairs with his trunk in tow.
Tonks shook her head ruefully. "That's the most expressive I've ever seen out of him."
"Needs a swift kick everynow and again." Selena commented absently as she strode back into the room to grab her satchel. "Boys just need to be shown what's what."
"Amen, sister." Tonks laughed and trudged down the stairs before Selena.
Down in the living room, the Dursleys sat at wand point, cowering on the couch in front of several wizards before they were finally stunned with three red bolts of energy and obliviated of the past few minutes.
"Harry." One of them was speaking to her charge. "It's good to see you."
"Professor Lupin." Harry responded a bit thickly.
"None of that, Harry, Remus or Moony, you know that." The disheveled wizard pulled Harry into a rib cracking embrace and Selena kept a watchful eye.
"You've met Arthur of course." Remus started to explain. "This is Kingsley Shacklebolt," the man in questioned was a tall man with black skin and cut a rather imposing figure. Selena did recognize him though, she had seen the man in the knees before as one of the guards and aide to the British Prime Minister. "Nymphadora Tonks," that got a mutter and grumble from the only other female in the vicinity, and a cycling of hair colors from a bubblegum pink to an angry red. "And Alastor Moody."
"The real one." Moody grumbled, his obviously fake eye rolling around his skull until it stopped and stayed on Selena. "You. You are dangerous. Who are you girl." the wand was on her for good measure too.
"Selena." She gave her first name only in a rather dry tone. She didn't go for any of the knives she kept on her person. "Gran has mentioned you, Mad-Eye. She is ever thankful for the help you gave in Munich."
"That old bitch is still alive and kicking?" Moody barked out a harsh laugh. "Albus went looking for her, did he?"
"I am her replacement. I am here strictly for Harry much like Gran was for Albus." Selena shrugged absently and then eyed the teen that was looking between the two. "Well more than that considering The old man's preferences."
That last comment more than anything cause Mad-Eye to finally lower his wand. "Y'know how to use a broom, lass?"
Selena just arched a blonde eyebrow in response. "You're going flying through Surrey?"
"And London." Mad-Eye said distastefully. "Can't take a Portkey, wards against that."
Harry frowned a little from next to Remus. "Why not Floo from Mrs. Figg's fireplace?"
"She only has a connection to Hogwarts." Remus responded. "And Hogwarts' Floo is only out going. Wards again."
"And a non-magical way is to dangerous since it's easier to attack." Selena surmised.
"Quite right." Moody barked. "So, can ye?"
Selena rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No."
"I can support the two of us on my Firebolt." Harry suggested absently.
"Feh. Go on without me, I'll meet y'in London. Still need t'get m'shoppin' done before anythin' else. Tha' an' no one b'knowin' I'm e'en 'ere." Selena shrugged as well. "Y'can find m' under m'title with your little pointing spell. Dancing Dagger."
"Alright." Harry nodded and turned to the rest of the adults. "Let's get going then. The less time spent in Durzkaban, the better."
Selena shook her head slightly at that and strode from Nimber Four Privet Drive while ignoring the paling faces of several of the adults.
Break
The flight was fast paced though Harry kept up easily considering he had the best broom of the lot. He easily outstripped Mr. Weasley and Remus. The others had brooms meant for Aurors though that meant next to nothing when compared to the majestic Firebolt.
Number Twelve Grimmauld appearing out I nowhere after reading a note was rather intriguing however.
"Wait, how is Sel going to find this place if its magically hidden like this?" Harry demanded.
"Harry, that woman is dangerous." Remus start.
"Sod that. She's been alone with me in my room for how long now?" Harry didn't seem to be impressed as he glared at his 'escort'. "First no one writes to me all summer, then there's several people under invisibility cloaks watching me the entire time, and now you tell me I can't trust the single person that actually showed me any kind of acknowledgement this last month? I've been going ruddy spare with worry and paranoia. How the bloody hell am I supposed to feel safe if I don't know what's going on or if my friends are okay? Besides, Professor Dumbledore was the one that brought her."
"So she claims." Arthur spoke gently.
"Bah." Moody spat. "She's a Dancer, dangerous but trustworthy if bought."