Here is the twenty-fifth chapter in Book 3. Here is the first of the 2 chapters that I had promised to get out over the next few days. I am on pace for at least one more, if not 2, so expect that in the next day or 2, soon I will be caught up with my backlog. That's all for now, there are no questions to answer here so sit back and enjoy the 25th full chapter in the third installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 3: Unity.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 25
The second semester of the year had ended and Albus was home for the two week break before the final semester of the year and he was not in a particularly good mood. It had been a rough second semester at the Academy between the usual expectations thrust upon him because of his father, his sole friendship with Scorpius, his extended family didn't count because they had to like him, and his weakness in combat waterbending.
He had continued to excel at healing and his nonbending fighting was probably better than his bending at this point but it was still frustrating to be constantly seen as the failure son of the Avatar. It was made worse by the fact that his siblings were continuing to excel in the physical applications of bending and nonbending combat. He had improved in his combat bending under Alnitak's tutelage in the Northern Water Tribe but that hadn't been enough to catch up with his classmates.
Regardless of all the usual shit that Albus dealt with, there had been one bright spot in the midst of all this and that had been his and Scorpius's growing friendship with Delphi, the training healer they had met in Hogsmeade. They visited her every weekend and she was both their confidant and a willing trainer in their bending abilities as she had more skill in combat waterbending than either of the two boys. Those were the best days of the week to Albus and Scorpius and they enjoyed them immensely without the pressures of the Academy.
Unfortunately Albus was now back in his room at their small mansion in the rich suburbs of Republic City. It was the first night of the break and Albus was already wishing he was away and either back at the Academy or with Scorpius again. However his father had insisted that he come home for the break.
Lily had also returned home at their dad's insistence while James was off on a two week Imperial Army training course. Over the last semester Albus's older brother had decided that the RCPD was not for him, the military was his true calling and that was what he would focus on now. Albus knew that James would be accepted into the Imperial War College in Ba Sing Se the next year, even if that was guaranteed given their parents' accolades, and that James would become a great and renowned military leader.
Albus was still too young to know what he wanted out of live but he had hoped he could go to the Foggy Swamp with Scorpius and make the trek to the Banyan Grove Tree in the heart of the Swamp over break. Delphi had suggested that they make this trip and Albus was hooked as soon as she described it. It was a journey of self-discovery as the Swamp showed you your deepest desires, wants, or even needs as you progressed to the center of it, the Swamp leading the way for you.
In addition it was the most spiritual place in the physical world and as such perfect for Albus and Scorpius who were both more in touch with the spirits than many their own age, a trait each had inherited from their respective mothers. It was just the kind of trip that Albus needed but of course he couldn't go on it.
Both Harry and Draco had wanted their sons back with them to spend time with them, which Albus knew was utter bullshit. His uncle Ron had just been elected as the next President of the United Republic, deservedly so, and had two months of transition time to prepare his administration. There was no need for Albus to be home in the wake of that.
That was because Harry, as the Avatar, would be busy helping Ron prep for this and help him in choosing his cabinet for after Ron was inaugurated. As such, Ron and Luna's kids had been allowed to stay at the Academy over break, or had at least gone to Air Temple Island to spend two weeks as intense airbenders. The latter had been allowed so that Loran could get his tattoos that he had earned that semester. That pretty much left Albus alone and wanting to go to the Swamp with Scorpius and meet Delphi at the Banyan Grove Tree.
A sudden knock on the door of his room broke Albus out of his glum thoughts as his father opened the door without waiting for a response. The Avatar looked a little haggard after a long day of dealing with Ron's transition to President but Albus suspected that his father had looked a lot worse in the past given all the shit Harry had been through as the Avatar. Albus had seen the pictures.
"Al can I come in?" His father asked the tiredness clear in his voice.
Albus just grunted an affirmative and shifted a little down his bed so that his father could walk in and sit on the end of his bed. Harry walked over and sat down at the foot of Albus's bed and looked at his middle child while Albus tried to avoid eye contact with his father.
Their relationship hadn't improved after the failed attempt to spend the summer as a family. This was expected seeing as all of Harry's commitments had dragged him away from what was supposed to be a nice quiet family holiday with two trips so that Harry could do his job. However, with Cresswell's escape and Pyrites' murder it had become exactly as shitty Albus had expected, which he resented.
Furthermore, as soon as he had gotten back to the Academy he had been bombarded with questions about his father's activities and what it was like to be so close to the action on Enlightened Island. Then they would remember who they were talking to and make snide comments about him and how his skill level meant that Albus likely didn't see any action. Just more reasons for Albus to detest the Academy more.
"What's bothering you son?" Harry asked again breaking Albus from his darkening thoughts. "You've been reserved ever since you got home. I know mom is out late working but I made it back at a reasonable hour today to see you and Lily. The three of us can do something if you would like."
"Nothing dad, I'm fine." Albus said monotonously as he pulled himself to the center of the bed and sat cross legged so that his father couldn't truth see him, ignoring the offer for family time.
He knew that his dad didn't mean to do it on purpose and that it was just a reflex at this point but it still annoyed him when his dad, or James for that matter, did it to members of the family. It meant that Albus couldn't have secrets from them and there were times when he wanted to keep secrets.
"Son, I may not be around as much as I want to be what with my duties as the Avatar and all that but you can still come to me." Harry said not mentioning Albus's deliberate move to avoid being truth seen. "I am still your father first."
"I know dad." Albus said though he didn't believe the last part.
"Well tell me about your semester." Harry said. "How was the Academy? Learn anything new? I remember my own fourth year there, it was probably the craziest year of my time there."
"We all know of your fourth year dad." Albus said with a note of bitterness that caused his father to frown ever so slightly. Albus had a feeling that this meeting wouldn't go well as he had a lot of resentment towards his father and it was finally all bubbling to surface. "It was your busiest year and not even your own fault. It started when you learned that you were the Avatar. Then you spent each semester in a different house mastering each element within 3 months other than water which took you much longer."
"Well I did struggle with it and it is still my worst element." Harry said defensively, an odd reaction for his father and one Albus was glad he had seen as it humanized the Avatar. "Plus I was interrupted that year."
"Yes I know." Albus replied without emotion. "During the third and last semester Voldemort finally attacked the United Republic, successfully assassinated President Scrimgeour and took power. In the process he had my namesake killed and forced you to flee the Academy. That was the night you, Uncle Ron and Neville all killed for the first time."
"Yeah it was a little different for me back then." Harry said without fondness. "Some good, some bad but all of it allowed me to grow as a person. But as you know, I struggled with waterbending, took me at least a month before I could even cause a ripple in a puddle and it was thanks to your mother I even got the hand of it. I still don't use it that often whenever I am forced to fight."
"I know dad." Albus said as the resentment and anger began to build up more inside him. "You aren't the only member of this family who has struggled with waterbending but at least you had the three other elements to fall back on. That's not to mention that in your natural element of earth you were already a prodigy at it. We aren't all like you dad."
"What's going on son?" Harry asked a note of worry creeping into his father's voice. "What's the matter Al?"
"I'll tell you what's going on, dad." Albus said the anger beginning to overflow from him at last and he put an unnecessary emphasis on the word dad. "I am constantly being seen as your son and not as my own person. I am constantly being compared to you and your skills, your many accomplishments, your extraordinary abilities, and the fact that despite your struggles, you were a master waterbender within 6 months of learning it while it wasn't until my third year that I was able to scrape past the masters test."
"Al you know that's not fair, the Avatar has always been an exception." Harry said to him. "With the exception of Roku we have mastered most of the elements pretty quickly. Everyone develops at their own pace and people at the Academy should see that in you."
"No, all they see in me is that I am the failed son of the Avatar, the great Avatar Harry, an Avatar who in 5 years accomplished more than his predecessor did in her entire lifetime." Albus replied as his anger burst and his pent up emotions came through. "They all expect me to be some prodigy waterbender just like Lily and James are in lava and metalbending are, at least that way I am as skilled as you in some area. Well I'm not in those but I am a prodigy in healing. However I can't say shit about it because it still isn't acceptable for men to be good at female fields, though it is actually encouraged on the flip side, because I would be taking away from women's opportunities despite the fact that I am better than anyone in the Water House."
"Albus, I didn't know you were a healer, that's great." Harry said, a moment of happiness in his voice, a moment that Albus planned on ruining. "Your mother is one as well, you got it from her and we will support you in it. Just tell the teachers, they will help you. There are laws preventing any form of bias treatment based on gender, you don't have to worry about it."
"No, I can't say anything because it would be just another black mark against me." Albus retorted, his anger nowhere near abated. "That is what life has been like for me at the Academy ever since I started. That is what it has been like for me last 4 years. My only friend is Scorpius because he knows what it's like to live in his father's shadow, to be expected to be like him and then disappoint everyone when he isn't, despite the fact that he is better than what Draco was like back then. That is my life at the Academy. If I could, I would leave it and transfer to the Healing College in the Northern Water Tribe but I can't can I."
"Son you have talents, you just need to work on your perception and behavior." Harry said as his own anger began to rise and Albus was pleased to see a rise in his father. "I know that it must be tough when your siblings are earthbenders and you inherited your mother's waterbending, but you can't let them make you feel like that. If you do then they win. Instead, all you do is resent me for the simple fact of who I am, something I can't change mine you, and what I have been forced to do as the Avatar."
"Yes because ending tyrants and monsters while saving countless lives is such a terrible thing." Albus sneered back at his father. "You are a great fighter dad, a warrior and a hero. You saved people, how can you not like that."
"Do you think I liked fighting Voldemort?" Harry asked, incredulity in his voice at what Albus had just said to him. "Do you think I enjoyed experiencing his bloodbending, a pain that is indescribable unless you experience it. Do you think I liked being forced to kill so many people who disliked me just because I took a middle path and didn't follow their leader's extremist views and who chose to fight rather than surrender when beaten. Do you think I enjoyed seeing the horrors I saw when I was in the Fire Nation under Hermione's mad dictatorship, things that still to this day still haunt my dreams?"
"I don't doubt that there were horrors, you were at war." Albus said back though he his rage was blinding him to his father's words. "But you still won and that is all people care about. You won and didn't suffer during the conflicts."
"You don't know horror or pain until you have smelt what happens when you sent lava into the crotch of a Death Eater or seen what happens when a bloodbender rips your blood from your own body and then almost does it to you." Harry said with a shudder at the clearly painful memories. "No son, I know it is tough for you because of me, I have read the stories of Bumi and Kya's struggles as Aang's kids but you have to make the most of it. James and Lily can why can't you. I didn't even know you're a gifted healer like your mother. That's great and you can do so well as a healer. If you want to go to the Healing College then I will support it, I will even help as best I can to get you into the Water Mystics if that is what you want."
"Yeah well if you weren't busy saving or running the world then you would know wouldn't you." Albus shouted at his father, only hearing what he wanted to at this point and venting all of his rage at last. "Your always off doing your heroics that you have too while I am still stuck in your shadow for all eternity it seems."
"You know there's nothing I can do about that." Harry said back as he too raised his voice. "I am still the Avatar and I have a duty to the world and sometimes that has to come first given the mad cunts that exist in the world. You need to change your behavior Albus. Sometimes we can't pick our fates and that happened to me when Raava chose me to became the Avatar. You need to deal with that and become your own person. You are my son and that is not going to change. Accept it, embrace it, and own it."
"Yeah well sometimes I wish you weren't my father." Albus shouted back letting his anger get the best of him and immediately regretting his words.
"Well sometimes I wish I wasn't either." Harry yelled back before Albus could apologize, his own anger also getting the better of him.
Albus could see that his father instantly regretted his words but it didn't stop them from hurting, even if Albus had meant the same with his own words. Without a word Albus got up and grabbed his as of yet unpacked bag from by his dorm and stormed out ignoring his father's shouts and apologies as he left. He was going to have that break he wanted and his father had just given him the perfect excuse he had been needing to leave.
His father had been his age when he went out on his own after the attack on the Academy that killed Master Albus so it was time for himself to have his own adventures with a friend. He was going to go and grab Scorpius and then they were going to go to the Swamp for their journey of self-discovery.
As Albus left the house he had a grim smile of determination on his face. He was going to have a fun and memorable break with his best friend and hopefully learn something about himself or his destiny from in Foggy Swamp.
Two days later
Harry and Ginny were alone in their kitchen. After Albus had run off Harry had told Ginny what had happened and while she chastised him for his utter stupidity she knew that he felt great remorse and regret for how he had acted, not just last night but for the last few years with Albus.
His middle child had always had a hard time being a waterbender when his siblings were earthbenders and talented ones too and Harry had failed to truly address the issues that were eating up Albus. Looking back on it, Harry could see how being a waterbender skilled in healing and the son of the Avatar who was known for his fighting abilities could wear on a kid. Harry swore that he would ensure that when they got back Albus, he would do everything he could to mend their relationship.
Ginny and Ron had done their best to help but they couldn't really help very much as they had grown up with waterbenders as siblings so there was only so much that they could do. It didn't help that Rose was naturally gifted like her father and that alienated Albus and Scorpius even more. This had clearly been building and Harry had done nothing to prevent it, he had failed at everything.
That included the friendship between Albus and Scorpius. It was one that Harry had not been supportive of because of the history he and Draco had had with each other so he couldn't understand how his kid and Draco's could be best friends. In the last year or so Harry had tried to get used to it and get to know Scorpius. He had to give it to the quiet pureblood, Scorpius was much more like his deceased mother than his father had been while in the Academy or his late grandfather.
Besides, Draco had long since forsworn his Purist views after his arrest. Harry had just been so busy that he hadn't seen his son hurting and how his son's behavior over the last few years had been to get his attention and presence. That had turned to resentment and had festered. Now Harry was worried.
He and Ginny had expected Albus to go see Scorpius and then either stay there or go back to the Academy but Regulus had just called Harry to tell him that neither boy was there and that Draco was worried as well as it seemed that Scorpius had also run off. Now the couple were in their kitchen and trying to figure out what to do.
"It has only been two days." Ginny pointed out. "It's not like we didn't run off when we were young or anything. He is probably fine."
"True but the one time we did was because we had been forced to flee." Harry said as he got up and began to pace back and forth. "Also we were living in different times. It was back when there was a fight or flight situation constantly on the horizon until it broke when the United Republic fell in the first salvo of the Second Purity War."
"That is true." Ginny conceded. "Still that only means that things are better now."
"True, it is a time of peace for us." Harry agreed. "But that is why I am worried if Albus is out there alone, and Scorpius too. They aren't prepared for it like we were and with Cresswell still free our son is a potential target to get to us. Plus Johannes likely getting a little desperate now that the election is over and he has had to remain as part of Ron's transition team. He has to stay out of trouble with us breathing down his neck and yet we don't know what they might do if given an opportunity like this."
"True and don't forget that Delphini is still alive and out there somewhere." Ginny said somberly as Harry's worries began to infect her as well. "That bitch will hold a grudge against us for what we did, it is how the twisted mind of Purists like her think. I mean, just look at how she killed Pyrites, and she could be anywhere. Druzok's latest report said that they are certain she left the Fire Nation shortly after the murder and hasn't been seen since. There has been no trace of her for months so she is still a threat as well, more so given her bending abilities."
"Yes I keep forgetting about that bitch." Harry growled as he paced for a moment longer before he stopped as an idea hit him. "Let's go see Draco. He may have some idea where they went off too. He's in the same boat as us so maybe he has some idea."
Ginny just nodded, at this point anything was better than just sitting around doing nothing and hoping that Albus would resurface. With that, the couple left their house and went off to find Draco at his place. Harry had never been there before but with Draco's particular criminal record he had to register his place of abode with the RCPD so Harry knew where it was. It also had been his father's place so it wouldn't be hard to miss given Lucius's tastes.
While Harry and Ginny lived in a nice place in an affluent neighborhood, Draco lived in the richest district in town. His family mansion was in the same area as Fred and George's identical places, at least as near as anyone in that neighborhood could be, so Harry took their satomobile there and onto Draco's place.
Despite a lot of his father's wealth coming illegal activities, Lucius had amassed a large fortune through legitimate or semi-legitimate businesses. As had his father before him and so on for several generations, so when Draco got out of prison the assets were unfrozen after reparations for Lucius's actions had been paid, Draco allowed access to them. However Draco had been forced to stay within the Northern Water Tribe during his years on a suspended sentence.
Once that had ended and Draco was free to leave the North a few years back, the former Crown Prince had moved with his sickly wife to Republic City to get out of the nation his father had ruined and to find the best healers in the world to work on Astoria. Draco had bought a large, lavish mansion as would be expected for a man of his wealth and had effectively retired from public life there to live with his wife and Scorpius until her death a year ago.
Harry found the walled estate easily enough. It was filled with a lot of elegant water features, well-kept hedges, and a small pond. Draco's family crest, one that he had changed after his release from prison, was on the wrought iron gates that led into the driveway.
Not having the time to be polite, Harry put his hand out and forced open the gates with his metalbending, much to Ginny's annoyance, before driving up the long graceful drive and up the ornate, platinum, front door. His son was missing, for once Harry could do without formalities and just get straight to the business at hand.
The pair got out of their satomobile and Harry rang the doorbell at the side seeing as he couldn't open the doors with his bending. In seconds the doors swung open and his one-time nemesis and now more or less respected peer stood in the doorway waiting for them. At least he didn't look too pissed about his front gate.
Draco was wearing simple but fine and elegant clothes from the latest fashion popular amongst the upper class of Republic City, which was different from his usual Norther Water Tribe get up but otherwise he looked very much like he had years before. Still tall, lean and blond Draco had grown his hair out long and wore it in a traditional style from the Northern Water Tribe, his only apparent concession to his heritage.
He had also grown out a short, pointed blond beard that looked good except for a long red line that the started at his chin and ran along the left side of his jaw where no hair grew. The scar was a souvenir from Harry during the attack on the Academy so many years ago when the frayed end of his metal cable that had just killed a Death Eater caller Quirrell had whipped Draco along it leaving that permanent scar. It was a permeant reminder to Draco of the mistakes he had made in his youth and what his family had lost because of their actions.
"I knew as soon as my gates were forcibly opened that it would be you." Draco said with a sigh before stepping back into his grand hall. "Please come in Avatar, Princess Ginny. I have a feeling I know why you are here. I should have expected this, let's talk inside."
Harry nodded and he and Ginny entered the house. As soon as they were inside the doors closed and they followed Draco down a long ornate corridor with fine art well placed on the walls, on pedestals, and in alcoves or on tables. It was clear that Draco had not been the decorator as the art was very tasteful and didn't make the place look like a museum.
There was also the constant sound of running water and many indoor waterfalls were present to provide a ready source of it for Draco and Scorpius. Harry had no idea how they managed to not always need to pee at the sound of the running water seeing as all this running water was making Harry really want to pee
Draco led them to a large dining room with a full water sheet falling down one wall, the other was pure glass and looked out over a manicured garden with more water features in it. As soon as the door closed Draco turned to them.
"Well where did Albus take my son?" Draco accused, his reservation turning to anger.
"If we knew were they went we wouldn't be here." Harry replied icily. He had come here out of desperation and for help, not to have his son accused by his former nemesis. "Albus left our house two days ago and we thought he might have come to stay here until we heard that Scorpius was missing as well and that they haven't been seen at the Academy either."
"Well maybe if they had not been friends or if you had been a more accepting father to him then we wouldn't be here." Draco said with as much ice as Harry. "At least my father, for all his faults, was there for me and me for Scorpius. You weren't for Albus."
Harry didn't have time for Draco's shit or accusations and slammed his foot into the marble floor. A pillar of marble shot out and went right into Draco's chest. The former Crown Prince of the Northern Water Tribe expertly absorbed the blow and backflipped to avoid being injured, all the while pulling water in from the water wall to surround himself in a bubble as he landed on the ornate table.
Harry wasted no time in leaping, using earthbending, on to the table, sending a fire ball at Draco while he did. Harry also had to avoid a series of ice shards being sent at him by Draco. The fire blast forced Draco back a pace so as to maintain his water bubble and Harry used that to begin to advance. However before he could attack again a giant pillar of ice shot out of the water wall and forced its way between them, destroying the table and forcing Harry and Draco to scramble to opposite ends of it.
"Enough!" Ginny yelled from by the wall where she had bent the water into the ice pillar, she did not remove it once she had their attention. "We are here to help each other find our sons not fight like you two did as schoolboys. Draco, you know as well as anyone that you wouldn't last a minute against the Avatar, and Harry you know that your power is so great that it could easily defeat Draco so stop fighting and start thinking clearly. We need to get over this childish shit. It's been almost 30 years, we are adults now and have all moved. What we need is unity as we search for our boys."
"She's right." Draco said in a chasten as he hopped off the table. Harry did the same and they met in the middle. "We shouldn't be fighting. Those days are behind us and I have a permanent reminder of my youthful follies right here on my face as well as on my criminal record and weakened rips. I lost and paid dearly for it, including losing my right to be Chief. I have accepted that and I shouldn't be acting out."
"You're right." Harry said with a sigh. "That war is long over and we should bury the hatched from it. You learned and improved yourself, something few did and I should always remember that. I'm sorry Draco, I am just so worried about Albus. He's never run off like this before and it's all my fault. I said some things I can never take back and I haven't been very attentive as of late. There has been so much going on that I have failed as a father."
"So have I." Draco admitted. "When Astoria died I was a wreck and I wasn't there for Scorpius when he needed me the most. She loved me for who I became after 10 years in solitary in the Catacombs Prison Complex and saw past my past transgressions. She really was the best woman I could have asked for."
"You spent 10 years in solitary?" Harry asked. "I suspected but I didn't know for sure, I was a little busy."
"It's ok Avatar, it was for my own protection." Draco said with a thin smile. "Being a Death Eater due to the Dark Mark, the former Crown Prince of the Northern Water Tribe and a young, attractive boy it made me a prime target for all the scum there. I survived and came out not only a changed man but a better man. Only Astoria saw that and we quickly fell in love and married."
"What happened to her?" Ginny asked with a note of concern in her voice. "I was one of the healers who worked on her but we couldn't figure out what was wrong.
"She had always been sick, a rare, genetic and incurable blood disorder that her elder sister did not inherit." Draco said sadly" It meant that she wouldn't live past about 60, 40 if she had a child. I told her that I didn't care about my family continuing a pureblood line with her but she knew I had always wanted a son and selflessly gave me that, ultimately at the cost of her own life. I look at him and remember her and her love. Scorpius is so much like her and nothing like me, that is what I am most proud of."
Harry looked at Draco a moment and nodded his sympathies as he didn't have any words that would do Draco's statement justice. He had never seen Draco like this, perhaps he truly had changed and Harry had never given him a true chance. That would now change.
Harry had always treasured his kids, especially Albus when he realized his middle son had inherited his mother's eyes. Harry knew he had been a bad father as of late and he promised himself he would make it up to Albus as soon as he found him. Unfortunately, Harry had a bad feeling his son might be in trouble.
"Well we need to unite and look for them." Ginny said firmly and breaking the silence between them. "And we should start with the Academy. That is the best place as they spend most of their time there."
"I agree." Harry said breaking from his own reverie. "Albus or Scorpius likely left some clue there as to what they were going to do. Between all of us we can figure it out and find our boys."
"Let's go then." Draco said going to the door of the dining room. "We don't have a moment to waste."
"Wait." Harry called out as he caught up with Draco. "We need to contact the rest of Team Avatar and at least my son James as he is old enough to help. We are going to need them to track down Albus and Scorpius and get them home safe. I may be paranoid but I want all hands on deck for this."
"We should also let the Academy know so that all students can be informed to look for them." Draco said as they walked. "I agree, I have bad feeling about this. Neither of them have done anything like this before so this whole thing really worries me.
"Agreed." Harry said. "Let's go get our boys back."
The trio left the room and headed to Harry's satomobile. It was going to be a hard search and Harry wanted to find them as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling about it, as if something big was going to happen soon. It was as if all that had happened since he had visited Hermione 9 months ago was about to come to a head and Harry didn't want to find out how bad that was going to be.
The stakes were against them but Harry had never let that get him down, he wouldn't let them get in the way of his family. It was time to put old grudges behind him, live with his regrets, and unite with Draco to find their sons. It was going to be one hell of a ride.
So this was the return of Draco and the first real chapter with him in the series. He will continue to play a role over the final arc of Book 3. As the focus has shifted back to Albus, that is where the next chapter will lay and y'all can guess what is coming, the journey in the Swamp and first appearance of the final nation in this series (though it has been seen in the spinoff series briefly). That is all for this post chapter note, as always please like, favorite, follow, review, this story and any questions asked in reviews or PMs will be answered at the start of the next chapter. Until next time.
Stringdog