Harry Potter and the Pattern of Fate Redue by Sadsack's newAccnt

by SadSackII

Book 1 The Serpent's Truth: Truth about one founder is not what is taught. Did he see more and be more than taught? Harry and Co. are about to find out that the universe and magic is not what they've learned. Will they survive? Can they grow and return in time to save the school, world, and all they love? pro OOC Ginny(non-fanon or canon) Harry/Multi read AN for more warnings.

30. Chapter 30

Disclaimer: I am not J K Rowling or Robert Jordan and their worlds of Harry Potter and the Wheel of Time. These two created the fun little worlds I have decided to play in with no thought of profit to myself. So I promise that if I did own these I wouldn't have had Hermione with Ron, though I would have been happy to see her be married to Rand al'Thor if ever the two worlds should meet.

($parseltongue$)

Authors Note: Some instances of both Steaminess and Femslash Yes icky icky lesbian romance as well as straight. Get over it as its my story not yours. As for pucky romance stuff at all, why read any story that has that as its first tag in it if you are offended by that. People fall in love and have sex all the time. It is one of the great joys of human life given to us by God. It is one of the greatest gifts to humanity as we can express it with those we choose, when we choose unlike the beasts of the world that need it only for procreation alone. Why do you think humanity has not died out centuries ago?

Now off the soap box and on to my apology for not writing of posting more for a long time. Its simple, no computer (as my old one took some of my work with its recent death), no internet (as its expensive), and no time (as life loves curveballs) I've been on the sidelines as a writer of both fanfiction and personal stories of my own. I apologize to you whom have been enjoying my story here. I've nothing but love for you all. As for the puckiness, I could care less if that is a detractor to any reader's enjoyment of my works, Surprise Surprise I don't write for others. All my writing is what I love and wish to read or hear of, and then I like to let in others on what has been rattling on in my brain.

Also know that I am going to be returning to writing more if my new to me PC holds out. So cross your fingers like I am that it stays amongst the living for a long and happy life. I know I am. I can't hardly wait to see how it all comes to an end after a great ride in the in between. ;)

Chapter Twenty Nine: The Price of Honesty

Calm almost placid waters held the Fair Eyed Lad in an embrace which was unnerving after days and nights on end being locked in battle with the fury of the Sea of Storms. Unsettling both the hardy salt crusted crew and the Tower refugees, these Calms the former lot called this pause in the intemperate weather has Harry's teeth on edge. Left alone for the time being by his voluntary turn on watch above decks, he is also left bare to the growing burdens of the Taint filling his head with voices and fears he'd rather not deal with. Having Lews Therin, or what was pretending to be the dead Dragon, gibbering endlessly on with longing for whole sale homicide was close to having the young wizard toss himself in the drink to end it.

"Ignore the poor blighter. Your stronger than you think." one of the rest assures him out of the blue, disturbing him almost as much as the kill happy lunatic does.

"Am I?" he questions the starless sky to dodge the implications of his madness comforting him about his madness. At least he could count on the uncaring sky unsurprisingly keeping its own counsel.

Memories not his own wash over him like the wave tossed water splashing over the decking. In the silence of his mind he finds himself, but not himself, standing at the prow of a far more sea worthy ship asking and receiving the same from an angry sky above. Fears of not being ready or strong enough to withstand a far deadlier storm of men and arms, he dreams of the one he loves most in life. Wrenching his traitorous wandering mind from this ludicrous vision takes a concerted effort before he is back into what he prays is actually the reality he knows.

Fears of losing himself again like this forces him to make a tour of the wear worn ship's outer railing, taking idle notes on how the lamplit frothy waves dash themselves against the tar coated wood and its cutting wake. With no moon or stars to illuminate the world at large, it felt as if all of existence lay captive upon this unsteady wooden vessel, and if he fell overboard he'd be irrevocably lost to the sloshing abyss of blackness forever. Leaving no trace that he has ever walked the mortal coil he was trapped by here.

"Would it be for the best? Would they forgive me?" he wondered aloud to the still laconic sea and sky.

Only the creaking timbers and sloshes of the ocean against them answered his inquiry with a bland non-committal unconcern what he did or did not do. Choosing to ignore his restless gloom, he turned his thoughts to why he failed to grab hold of Saidin while manfully doing his best to battle the rig ropes, when it was so readily available at other less stressful moments. What good is the One Power and its unwanted Tainting if he couldn't use it when push comes to shove?

Afraid to test his theories on the subject just to get further unnecessary bathings in the filth already soaking into his soul, he finds his mind drawn to how little those back home knew of the dangers inherent to magic there is. Was this Taint why most Dark Lords were wizards? Was this why the magical world did so many bloody insane ludicrous endeavors that make zero sense to even contemplate let alone do? The idea terrified him if it were true.

Shivering from the magnitude of that train of thought, he leans against the starboard rail, clutching the rigging there for balance. He had no hope of rescue if the truth was that home remains just as cursed as this doomed Age appears to be. Diving into his lone sanctuary in his turmoil ridden mind, he immersed himself in the Emptiness. Wrapped in the Void out of habitual reflex gave him a moments sanity, but also tempts fate in the offing as the seductive draw warming his soul from Saidin burned dangerously inside, but hidden out of direct sight.

"I have to have hope. What point is there for me if there is nothing?" he chastised himself with little conviction to his words.

Staring out into the vast seeming nothingness of the sea, his mind unhelpfully replayed the disasters he's lived through. Or had he, as he was positive that every event had carved off chunks of his soul in the end. When examined in this grim light, he was turning into a rather blood soaked heathen with hardly an ounce of worth.

"Even hardened steel has its uses." offers another of his unwelcome guests in his Chez Taint hotel.

"But the strongest creations are most often the most supple." another counters in debate, ignoring him as if he were just another resident they casually knew.

"Like the sublime beauty of Fire. Set this nightmare afire I must to be free! To join her, my Ilyenna." Lews Therin takes to ranting in a deafening scream that tore though out Harjit's skull, buckling his knees by the force.

"Shut Up!" the others roared in semi-unison at their psychotic compatriot in his insanity. Their efforts to silence the man was rewarded by little to no success as the interloper kept up a running murder minded cackle. Showing no sign at all of even recognizing them or Harjit at all.

"Will I ever find peace again?" he begs of the uncaring rope he's clinging to for his very tenuous grip on sanity, if not reality as more ghostly images pass though his tired mind he has never seen in his odd life.

Weeping there for quite some time he is startled when tender hands take hold of his own white knuckled ones and his trembling shoulders. Jerking his head up from its resting place against the cold coarse length of knotted hemp, his eyes meet the concerned faces of Angelina and Alicia. His onetime team mates wore worried frowns for him, almost reminiscent of the days when he'd been flung head first into the crazy world of Quidditch.

At one time they had aided him keep his feet and focus from the harassment of his foes and the deranged fanaticism of their team captain. Back home when he was innocent and worth a Tinker's Dam, unlike the growing monster left clinging to his sanity by the threads of his humanity and the Fair Eyed Lad's rigging.

Squatting down Angelina hugs him tight without uttering a word. Holding him close as if he were a little brother who has fell and skinned a knee or two. There was no fearful reticence in her dark eyes or her tender touch, though he'd never blame her or the rest if he did terrify them. Light knew he frightens himself these days.

"Come on Harjit. Up you get." Alicia softly commands while taking his elbow with care, "Lets get to a less precarious perch to plonk it down on. I love swimming in the sea but out here holds little appeal to me. It would be far better to wait for a dip at one of those special French beaches don't you agree mate."

Helping each other stand, him and Angelina quietly follow the other girl to a batch of barrels lashed next to the hatchway. The black witch taking up a step behind him like a shepherdess herding an itinerant lamb whose been lost in the craggy hills.

Finding a seat on one of the barrels after sweeping it clean and dry with Saidar, Alicia pats the one beside hers to plant it. Under the lamplight bathing the quiet deck she looks like she has some grave news for a recalcitrant younger brother.

"What am I missing?" his cautious nature halts his steps.

"Much, but just sit with us for the now, Harjit." Angelina urges him on to the impromptu seat they've reserved for him.

Hesitant but having no real reason to resist the directive, he perches on the barrel's rimmed edge, where Alicia too hugs him with no trace of fear. It felt nice to be just another lost and alone teenager. Being the recipient of simple affection from the human contact outside his Circle's tender touches he wept a little as his defenses relax some.

"That's it Harry, let it out." Angelina suggests while sitting next to him to comb his sea spray drenched hair. "You're allowed to be human Harjit. Never think you have no right to be alive and have feelings."

Squeezing him tight to her side, Alicia pats his back with the love of a big sister for her baby brother. "She's right Harry. You can't go on being alone and adrift. We all here love you. Maybe not like that lot of your girlfriends do, but to us you're our brother. Before we all took this trip through the looking glass we may not have been this close, but now are a family. Weird one true, but as tight as a one as those born to one. You boys think all you lot are is a bunch of monsters on the make, but that's sheer bollocks. Us witches may not show it well enough, and that's on us, but you lot of lads are each as good as blood to us. The other wizards know this I think- or hope so- but for some reason you missed the memo. Gred and Forge mentioned to us back a few years ago that your supposed kin treated you worse than a Malfoy House Elf back home. Well me and Ange got to thinking you may've lost out on knowing how a true family really acts with one another. Frank too may have lost his memo too come to think of it. If he did or didn't isn't the point, as we do know you're swimming in dangerous waters here on account of missing a decent raising."

What was he supposed to say to all that? He knew she was right on some level seeing that he was terribly at a loss how to act or react here.

Angelina, still combing his hair, spoke with tender care, "Harry you don't have to reply or answer us. This is not a time for what is expected or proper like in Hogwarts or the Tower. This is us caring for a broken hearted brother who mistakenly thinks he has to be perfect."

"I'm never going to be perfect again." he let slip past his guard through some tears breeching his defenses, "I'm only going to get worse if I don't become stronger, or I'm gelded by the Sisters."

Alicia chided with no small touch of heat, "None of us witches going to give up on any of you boys. You are all going to get cured, and there will be no more of this skipping off to the ruddy Blight. Do you hear me, Harjit?"

Arguing with them just didn't feel worth it, so he bit his tongue to stall any hurtful rebuttals on his part. They are just trying to help, he reminds himself while clutching Alicia tighter. Feelings of acceptance were warring with his worries of weakness in the caring embrace of his older friend.

Tears were coming easier to him as he shook from their draining release.

"There you go Harjit. There you go." she whispered, allowing him to say nothing as he cried freely for the first time in memories.

Time passed and yet he did not care. He couldn't stop himself any longer. Not everything but still the tiny fraction he failed to stay silent on came out in a ramble of tumbling stones. Sorrows he's held buried since he were barely old enough to comprehend that he was a Freak under the steps of his family's stair case, to when he had to help his godfather once more vanish from his life came boiling out of his long sealed tight heart.

Sharing glances over his trembling shoulders, the two witches were glad in a sad horrified way they decided to do this for their younger friend. They knew his girlfriends have tried to help him open up, to help him escape the malicious memories flaying him. Stoppering some of those efforts was the bedeviling truth that teen boys are always dreading ever letting their lovers see them as this weak. Stupid as that is it is never the less a fact of life.

After a few hours, his agony abated some to where he withdrew from their hugs to just sit staring in mute numbed pain. His tear brined eyes focused up at the pitch black night sky with its eery emptiness of either stars or moon. A giant velvet blanket of nothing for as far as the eyes can see, so very similar to the Void he almost could've laughed if it didn't hurt so much right then.

"You won't tell them I broke will you?" he worried aloud to them in a rough sniffle, "They don't need to worry for me, what with their studies. Especially Luna... she needs me to be strong for her. I don't know what the Tower did to her, but she won't make it if she loses my strength. Light I wish I were stronger. Harder so none of you have to fear for me... or more fear me."

Angelina coughs uncomfortably as Alicia looks away for a second or two. Finally the former takes his hand in her elegant dark hands, gripping his fingers with a gentle no nonsense strength of her own. Sort of like she were anchoring him to this spot and moment for some odd reason.

"Harjit," she speaks through an emotion thickened throat, "someday you must tell them yourself. Maybe not tonight but soon nevertheless. We know you've let slip some and have actually chose to let them in on some, but what all you must have locked up and buried inside to cry like this isn't going to go away. It won't be fair to them to continue on hiding it all. They love you, Harry. They love you so much it's a bit scary to witness, even if some things about them may appear that they could care less. Don't dare let others' misunderstandings trick you into thinking otherwise. We can attest to failing to see everything right and true about them after all the White Tower's dodgy rubbish coloring things. Trust them, even if you're afraid to. Just promise in your heart to give them your trust in them, their absolute love for you, and how much you love them too. Doing so will help you if you learn some surprising things about them. Even if things seem unexpected and startling, keep your mind and heart open to them. We're all human Harry, all of us, which includes those five girls you've set on frighteningly tall pedestals no sane person can claim a right to. Or survive on long if tossed up there by those who love them. You're not the deathly cold glacier of ice you try to be and project to the world of late. Neither are we more than simple women and men of our little family here, including them. We all are here for each other, be it your supreme Iciness or for our tiny dear sister Luna. Together we'll make it home, apart and hidden we'll all die. All the quicker if we fail to remember we all love and trust each other, as we're really all we have in this world."

"I know all that, but I'm not perfectly positive I can trust myself all things considered. However I do trust all of you lot. My girlfriends I trust more than that." he confesses with a tired sigh, "I see Luna though and I ache to heal her somehow. Then my head gets turned about and I begin thinking that I should go and set some things aright back there. I know I've got to stay by their side no matter what but I get angry, and not all of it is local to me, then I have to physically restrain or distract myself. The knowledge that the Tower hurt you ladies puts the whip to my bit of control over myself and others. I'll tell you in all honesty for myself and my mates, you lots actively trying to keep us from learning what happened and setting it right has us all a bit touchy."

Taking a deep breath, Angelina replies with obvious caution, "Like you, we can't go right the wrongs done to you, so we pray you trust us in our own ability to stand a few blows now and again. We can't erase what is killing you lot of lovely daft adorable wizards because we chose to come here over other locals, so what we have dedicated ourselves to is be here to love you all as best we can."

"Sort of like why we chose to stay instead of scarpering off on you lot. We love you." he informs them before pulling in his own shuddering breath, he asks point blank, "Is there anything I can help with? Besides taking a torch to that heap of besoms, as I doubt you ladies will let us wizards try it."

Alicia was the one to answer him, "Got it right there we won't allow that. What you can do for us is to be aware that we all die a little every bloody time you boys get masculine and charge out swords a swinging. What you can do for your girlfriends is love them and never forget you are a human not some idiotic comic book super hero. We'd all be broken hearted if you snuffed it, but for that lot... They'd shatter I think. We've already been at grinding this into our pair of rogues but you're by far the worst at it. You are not alone, and you are stronger than you think already, trying to stamp out what makes you, you is not helping anyone."

He rather doubted that he was hard enough yet, but felt it best to keep that to himself so he admitted, "I'll try to remember all that you've said. It's a bit much to take in, in one go."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fighting her maddening periodic shivers while leaning against the bulkhead where she had sat and listened to her true love weep into Alicia's arms, Daphne felt a heavy dollop of shame at not realizing how she'd allowed the deceitful White Tower pry a yawning chasm between her and Harry. Those ancient harpies saw zero need for unity with each other let alone between the prosaic bonds of wives with their husbands. Family is a concept so completely outside their keen that the basic social needs that are needed for such to last long as a healthy unit are also alien to their marble halls. With no compassion or civility the Seven Ajahs dwelt in a universe of zero decency or care for the common weal. Having desperately pushed themselves into trying to emulate those besoms in order to learn quicker they have inadvertently fell into again alienating those the young witches love. A wicked deceptive trap that was like as not going to defeat them by their own arrogance. Hearing how her Harry was adrift without her and the Circle, so much so that he doesn't even trust himself hurts. It also scares her that she is clueless how to correct their course before they run aground. Their secret keeping and distance with him must've broke him up something terrible already.

Considering that she also can't help but return to her heart sickening worry for Luna, breaking anew at what her gentle doe of a love has been through.

Love of the pair and the rest of her Circle has her sit in weary reexamination of what she feels or knows about herself. Was she worthy of her loves? Was she anywhere near strong enough to stand at their sides when she is too bloody much the coward to declare herself one with them publicly. Did she have any right to share their lives when she is afraid to let the world know she is proud, she is part of what many will think is a seraglio. Was her so slowly in coming to grips with her less than standard sexuality a bar to her desire, near on hunger to partake not only of her adonis Harry sexually, but her four heavenly witches as well. Since Par, Ione, and Gin-Gin have bravely came out of the closet to now openly enjoy their desires for one another, she's been forced to evaluate her secreted away longings for girls along with boys. Witnessing Par and Ione locked in their passion for one another has scorched her nights with fiery dreams of them with her and Harry, but also frighteningly for her was that she was equally fantasizing about them without their wizard along. If not for her timidity and fears she'd have long ago joined them on the double quick, probably dragging their wizard in with to make it all official. "Good witches, don't." is near a sacrosanct command for purebloods like herself. Fears of how her family back home will take her personal life choices was maddening but no less debilitating in deciphering her true paths in life.

However she is driven by a crazy unbelievable love for the lot, not simply an impulsive fit of lust. Raised as a perfect upstanding pureblood witch has instilled a dread of going counter to what is the norm for society as that will reflect poorly on her birth family and her expected to be husband and master. Daring to choose to let herself to love a Circle of witches, suborning her life to them as well as their wizard would mark her a gender traitor. Good witches don't live as equals to their wizards. To a frightening percentage of their kind she may as well come out as a cauldron stirring abomination as to come out as a harem bound demimondaine. In their choice to be as they are made it that they were wicked evil abominations in both those sinful senses. Truth or not, her Circle's choosing to be as much each others as Harry's meant people back home will snicker behind their backs that they only married to escape mandatory lifelong holidays in Azkaban. Worse was that her sister will be automatically assumed to be the same, while their husband will be openly mocked as a cover wizard. Yet to deny her loves, and to allow them to be hurt by that denial was unacceptable too.

Which she was learning was exactly the case with her sweet Luna and their endearing brave Harry. Sick little snipes back home can hang and she'll make it up to Astoria, but this was her life and heart. Her witches and wizard mean more to her than social standing or gossip. Snakes could be as brave as needed, and she must be to save her own.

Hearing Ange and Ali coming down below decks, she slides into the shadows to let them pass unknowing of her presence. Once they were gone, she starts to ascend the steep ladder way to hunt down her lonely broken wizard. Setting him straight in how deeply she loves him, they will then both get their Luna. It might take some doing but letting them vanish into their imprisoning depressions was not happening on her watch.

"I wouldn't child." Corilta Sedai caught her attention. "If you truly love him, you'll stay down here till he has a chance to settle his mind and heart on his own. Men are delicate things when it comes to dealing with emotions. Pushing in will only push him away in a masculine show of personal independence. Yours has the markings of being worse than the norm in this."

Pausing her steps, she turns to find the imperious Blue Sister standing in the doorway of the Sisters' joint cabin, illuminated by orange lamplight. Behind the Blue, Daphne saw the other two Aes Sedai were asleep already, and the Captain was lounging inside with a tankard of some sort while lounging in the lone cushioned seat.

"Corilta Sedai," she began only to be gently cut off by the woman.

"Child I know you young girls are in the middle of a rather amusing, if highly irregular game with that ice veined Truhart. All us Sisters have made note of it, so don't be coy about it now. Personally I find it refreshing to witness how it has played out thus far. To the amusement of the others it has been an on going wager which of you wins him as a Warder, or ends up as lifelong partnered Sisters with one of the others. Though I too enjoy a fun friendly wager, I have much more interest in your lives than suppositions. It is overlong in time for us to have a oft delayed discussion. Follow me to the Captain's cabin, my friend has agreed to let us make use of the place undisturbed." Corilta directed with a crisp no nonsense command, leaving Daphne to scramble in an undignified dash to keep up.

Reaching the room, the older witch ushers her in ahead.

A tiny none too light or secret fear of this strange event brings horrific memories of Luna's plight with the Red Hag Elaida. Shoving that down, the young Slytherin is also more afraid of the more likely chance that the Blue has some other game in mind that may hurt them all. Full Sisters were hard pressed to go longer than a day with no new bid in Daes Damar.

Once inside, she turns around to witness the older witch quickly become a storm of security weaves. Memorizing as many as she can, she is gobsmacked by what the Blue Sister does next.

Taking a seat in the Captain's throne like dining chair, Corilta pours them both a glass of wine, indicating the younger woman join her at the small officer's table at her side. When she did as bid, the Aes Sedai launches into cool crisp lectured plot. "Child, this trip to Salidar must be completed by you and your friends. The White Tower is in dire need of you more than most will ever care to confess in open. For many the same would hold true in their own hearts inspite of the abundant evidence. Do you realize what the greatest sin that treacherous Elaida has committed? Of course a youth of your tender years will have missed this. Daphne, my dear child, Tarmon Gai'don is not only on the horizon but is already being fought in a thousand small hidden battles over all the West. Thankfully we still have some time left to us as you and girls of your caliber must be made ready to fight along side those of us who've attained our Shawls. Every Sister is required to stand and fight for the Light, yet Elaida has fractured our union for the chance to wear a false Stole and pride. Without all our numbers at full strength and at the ready the Light is in danger, thus we must have every girl of your gifts forth with. Our dangerously low fraction of our once mighty numbers is forcing me to go outside the norm in securing our greatest strengths. Me and my Sisters here have been debating our needs and have came to a pair of decisions of what to do with you lot. Daphne, we must place our trust in you and maybe your pillow friend Parvati to keep your heads and oaths to serve the White Tower. My personal best hope lays in you more than the wilful nature of Parvati. In my estimation, you alone of your group has the mental adroitness and the personal fortitude to guide the rest to Salidar if some unforseen mischance befalls us. Already we have been forced off course more than seems natural for my comfort."

"What of Hermione?" she blurts out her Circlemate whom not only was wickedly brilliant but also the greater talent at Saidar than any of the Hogwarts crew.

"I may have fine friends among the Brown, but would sooner boil my own liver than trust in the easily distracted natures of the academics. Your lover is one down to her very roots Brown if I ever saw one, in spite what others think of her magnificent power may suggest. As I mentioned earlier I hold next to no faith in them to ever manage this dire a mission. You on the other hand are rooted deep in Daes Damar, with exemplary promise to grow to be a master of the game. Misses Davis and Padma Patil are close in some regards, but neither have the hold you have on both Granger and your common beau Truhart. As both their lovers and friends, we have selected Parvati and yourself for you hold the pair's trust as well. My Sisters wished to approach both of you tomorrow, but I took advantage of circumstances to ready you more." Corilta directed as if it were a done deal.

"Me and Hermione are-" she began only to be spoke over by the amused Aes Sedai.

"Are only a slip of either of your slips from riding the silken way together. Do not deny it, or imagine my disapproval of your love lives. She is a fine girl whom will make you a finer partner, same as Ginevra, Parvati, or Luna. My only regret is that I can not have the satisfaction of inducing more than Weasley into joining the Blue." the Sister sighs with a sip of wine.

"Me and them are- well I love them something dreadful but-" she tries to set out some facts.

"Give it time. Very few Sisters have not at the very least tested these self same waters your hesitantly starting to swim in. Take your time and explore them fully while your young. No woman is an island unto herself and rare is the man who'll choose to long stay true to ones gifted such as we are. If I were to become a blushing slip again like you and yours, I too may have reexamined what I wanted in a lover. As it is I'd have to admit I miss my two lovers from my Accepted days. Losing my noble princeling in the Aiel War and the following disappearance of my sweet Talyanna in the Blight a few years later has drastically cooled my ardor. I've much to see properly done yet in life and ever lessening time for frolics. You on the other hand, I must urge to not only use your chances and bonds of love for your own sake, but also for the sakes of us all. Let us older souls worry for the consequences, or go on living in our own hard dying regrets." Corilta confided, then added with a small distant smile, "With this Dragon Reborn, or hopefully False Dragon al'Thor, larking about, my hope is to see girls of your character be readily in place to safe guard what us older women have taken for granted."

Numb from the blunt message, Daphne drank her wine in a deep pull, "Why me specifically do you wish to take up your mantle as an Aes Sedai as well as keeping my friends on the path to Salidar? You should know I am not a natural leader."

"Truhart." Corilta spoke in a sad forlorn whisper.

"What does he have to do with my station as Aes Sedai?" she pressed in whole hearted fear for her love's life.

"He's ta'verin I believe. When this al'Thor is no more, I can't shake the feeling that your man will arise unguided to either finish shattering our world or to heal it. With you and your lovely partners raised in the Tower, yet still given leave to keep tight hold on his love and trust, his rise will be more conducive to not vanquishing us all. I'm placing my trust in you child because you're my best option. If I could, and knew it would turn the trick, I'd personally Bond, and bed him. If I could avoid trouble from my more stodgy Sisters, I'd see you, or all of your little band of lovers, bind him to yourselves this very night. A girl of your caliber may be exactly what will protect all we love and hold dear from vanishing." the Sister leveled her with a cool unblinking gaze, "You have such immense potential and foresight, I can pray I'm right in what I am about to say. In your arms, or possibly Parvati's and yours, that hard eyed lad shows promise of having a soul still. Believe me, if he just so happened to wake up in your bunk, bedroll, or even bath with you and yours; I'd not bat an eye or let anyone else do so. He must be saved for all our sakes, of that I am positive. If he is left uncontrolled or at minimum guided incorrectly, he is the stuff of my nightmares. But what terrifies and saddens me more is if he's lost because we did nothing to try."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ruddy orange lamplight swung in an uneasy stomach churning sway with the pitch and roll of the wallow bottom ship bobbing in the night's sea. Tonight this was the lion's share of unpleasant sensations to bear in this desperate ocean sailing adventure over the treacherous waters of the amply named Sea of Storms. Blessing or precursor to worse, the moderately calm night has yet to tell the foolhardy souls aboard the Fair Eyed Lad its secrets. A fact of which gave the ever so cautious Neville and his mates time to physically rest for once since stepping aboard this leaky scow, but that did not vacate their mounting worries that this was a cruise some or all of them may fail to survive. Fervent prayers that this let up in the endless ill weather is a sign of a sought after longer string of gentler turnings of the Wheel aided the tired wizards over taxed minds in grasping relief from their heavy mental fatigue. At the very least they could enjoy this calm before any new and maybe worse storm rolls in.

Listening to Blaise's still retching up from the fellow's earlier failed attempt to grab hold of the illusive Saidin, Neville wonders if anything pleasant awaits them. Judging by how Harry, whom was staying above decks to watch for trouble, acts as if there is an unending arguement running in his best mate's head- the rest of the wizards are in for a rough go sooner or later.

Caressing Padma's presence in his skull, the tired Lion asks point blank, "Do we dare keep going on this route? Blimey if we're up to much more of this bloody weather? Trusting our lives to the Tower has been turning out to be less than a sterling an investment. Putting to shore now may keep us from turning out as Blaise here. No offense mate."

"None..." Blaise wheezes in the salt encrusted mustiness, "None taken. It goes to show how... how being brave can make a bloke sorry he's born."

Not wishing anyone overhear a hint that it's the Taint instead of sea sickness affecting the dark toned wizard, Neville merely nods before speaking another word. Creaks and groans of their floating coffin fills in the pervading silence in the stale emptiness of their cabin.

"What do we do about our gloomier mate's possible deadly heart break?" George named the current devil tormenting them outside of their storm tossed journey, "I trust Gin and the rest in what they claim about their unorthodox ideas of love, but we here all know our often volitile mate's propensity for losing it in fantastically scary ways."

Fred grunted in agreement from sharpening a rusting boot dagger, "After our obtuse littlest brother Ronnikins the Git of Gits ditching our other brother from another mother, the boy has been touchier about trust."

Neville knew that was the bloody truth.

Thinking of how he'd feel to discover Pads was snogging on anyone but himself, and keeping it all on the sly to boot, he'd be less than chuffed. Trust may not go hand in hand with love, but a relationship without it is doomed from the get go. Proof that he was the luckier bloke in love with choosing the very straight and quite sensible Padma over any of those birds his idiotic best mate took to in that loony idea of a sharing Circle.

"Frank?" Fred queried with a testing one hand flip of the dagger, "You know mate you're doing an exceedingly excellent impression of Harjit suddenly."

"That or you've forgot we're supposedly holding a conversation." George put in with a drink of water. "If you have, I'm dead scared what is in store for us all. One bloody brilliant yet unstable leader is enough for us all thank you all the same."

Shaking himself, Neville grumbles, "I hate it, but I best be for telling him now. Before that set of crested hens conveniently forget to yet again. For three of them being Lionesses, their a right cowardly lot on the whole when it comes to Harjit."

"Don't you think they have a point?" George waggles the water dipper at them, "We're rightfully terrified of him ourselves."

"Too true my other me." Fred jests.

"Cut it you two." Neville growls at the pair.

"Don't go being dumping all the rubbish on the three Lionesses. Their Snake isn't being of much help if any far as Harjit goes. Trace feels Daph is as daft as the rest of them. Sneaking about is our stock and trade, but keeping our surly sod of a leader in the Dark puts us all in danger of a chance eruption of His Grimness. Though neither me or my lovelier half have never suspected Daph as one of them cauldron stirring bints of the White Tower. Just goes to show how hard a true Slytherin is to pin down on things that matter, even for their so called best friends." Blaise's managing to say all that without puking but just a few swallows was a small miracle on the whole.

"Again do any of us have the right to blame them being scared?" George points out, "Good witches are to be paragons of motherly virtue and the purest of chastity. Mine told me she's been afraid to come out and admit being pants at knitting, sewing, and absolutely loathes gardening. Cooking and potioneering are her sole witchly skills she claims, even though she doesn't think much of my firm belief being smoking hot and wicked fun count for much. But then I digress-"

"You don't say brother mine?" Fred laughs at that last.

"Oh but I do brother. Just as I must make mention that in our little slice of humanity back home looks down even harder on girltrap witches. The White Tower may think highly of pillow friends, those sorts are riding the broom dangerously close to the greatest sin of our kind, Line Theft. So I think we should give them some benefit of the doubt. Besides we four blokes here are only observing this on the outside."

"They very well could be all on the innocent side about this. Youthful indiscretion sort of thing." Fred adds with a grin for how the blade looked now.

"That may be, but to the plonkers in charge back home the mere suggestion marks them and the rest as whores one and all." Blaise amends there supposition.

"Point taken but what we all need to think on is if ol'Harry the Surliest of Surlies ascribes to home or Tower ideals." Fred counters.

Imagining what that lot of five girls are facing by their wading into what the White Tower quietly encourages, Neville wishes the silly chits wouldn't have included his lonely best mate in their highly irregular adventures. All told a headache for all the more sensible members of this voyage to deal with.

George further supported that regret, "None of what may be rolling around my sister's head and her gaggle of geese girls. Our trouble is what do we do if Harjit catches them and is of the traditionalist views? Who do we side with? Gin-Gin is my baby sister but its Harry that could be said is the wronged party."

"I'll speak to him." he replied with a throbbing twitch in his eyebrow.

"We'll come with." the twins spoke up in unison.

"I'll just sit this out. I don't wish to bark at my shoes while trying to face our scarier mate." Blaise said needlessly with a dismissive wave. The poor devil was distinctly green around the gills still.

Stepping out into the passageway, Neville was glad of his Warder training and its improving his balance issues. Life aboard a ship or boat was a tricky thing in keeping one's feet in the best times. Rolling and bobbing as violently as the Fair Eyed Lad does did not count as optimum moments. If they had attempted this foolish journey when they had freshly stepped from the Portal Stone he knew he'd have spent more time smashing his mug into the decking or corridor walls than standing upright. Then again he may have baulked at even getting onto this ragged bundle of sticks willingly without the uncompromising commands of the Aes Sedai.

Rolling with his steps he is able to see coming out of the Captains Quarters was Corilta Sedai, passing him with hardly an indication him and his mates were there. Shortly after her entering the cabin the Aes Sedai share, Daphne staggers out from the Captain's Cabin as well. A sick disheveled look to his best mate's witch has Neville's hackles rise. Did another old cow just do some more mischief with one of the girl's he saw as the nearest thing he has to sisters?

Sighting him as he stood there gobsmacked, Daphne's eyes well up with tears as she hurls herself into his arms, where she whimpers in parsletongue in muffled sobs from his broad jerkin clad chest.

Anger in the Twins' eyes matches what came bubbling up in him. Thankfully its acrid bitterness summons Padma to him at the double quick. Her dark eyes were wary with concern, amplifying to the cold fury that is her angriest state of being upon seeing the distraught Daphne in his arms. Whose exact plight has as yet been ascertained.

Rushing to them with a determined businesslike shake of her shoulders, she takes charge of the distraught witch and the incredibly odd situation. All while Daphne began mumbling plaintively, "She- She wants me to- to seduce them into- into obeying her. To control them- especially him."

Neville wasn't happy with hearing that bit and took a handful of steps towards the Aes Sedai's door. Padma's catching up his sleeve in passing pauses him as she hisses in command, "Its just more Tower games luv. Let us witches deal with it, you go find and sit on Harit before he gets wind of this and forgets that wooden ships burn."

Fred and George scowl in mirrored unison, but are caught up short by her, "Don't you two dare get any exotic ideas. Just do as your told and sit on Harry somehow. Get him occupied in a game of knuckles or other masculine idiocy, but just make doubly sure he is out of the way till us ladies have figured out what is what here."

"Would we do anything wrong or irreparably crude?" George acted innocent.

Fred's staggered surprise was even less convincing, "You wound us Pads. Wound us deep."

"Your proclivity for being dodgy is legendary in two Ages. A fact the pair of you have given ample evidence far too often as it is." Padma responded with a dark, sharp edged withering glare.

"True, but sometimes its all for the best." Fred braves her ire with a nonchalant shrug of admission. "We have a Talent and it is always for the best to keep up practice in fine tunning those gifts. Is that not the motto of the White Tower?"

Feeling her sharpening spikes of aggravation, Neville cuts in to head off further trouble. "At this point mates, if we don't keep a tight lid on Harjit, need I remind you he might do something far more drastic, like sink this useless scow with us still on board. By accident of course, but we're left adrift never the less."

Sobered by that, the Duo of Dastardly Deeds subsided. They already were on edge with worry over what their mate may react like to certain things. But adding this to those five birds growing rather large unexpected crests may have become the straw to break the camel's back.

Sighing at his own dread and misgivings about how this forces them to hold their tongues over the loony lots secret, Neville leads the pair of delinquents up the ladder way and out to hunt down their mate. How they could keep the bloke distracted would have to be answered after locating him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sitting Daphne down in the lowest accessible hold, on a pile of Two Rivers wool, Padma fought down the urge to tear strips off her sister's band of half wit geese. If the five had not formed their unnatural sort of coven, a lot of the group's current troubles may never have cropped up. Nor would there be so many left hurt in the troubles that never leave off trailing behind such twisted love stories. But those battles have to wait for the now. Daphne's news has to be sorted first or else Harjit may get creative.

"So tell me everything that was said. Don't put anything else in. We can't put this before the others till we two have got a solid hold on it." she stared into her friend's eyes, silently cursing the girls of the Circle rot during it all.

Steadying now, away from the initial traumatizing event, Daphne tried to speak clear and concisely, "Corilta stopped me from going to see Harry..."

Listening to the explanation, that Daph did indeed manage to deliver in clear concise manner, Padma judged it about as close to how the Slytherin normally is on the whole. Well when not dealing with Harry and the others in the Circle that is. Proving the personal theorem she has developed in why it is abundantly clear seeking Neville's eyes over Harry's was the best solution to her lonely often overlooked heart's need for companionship. However horribly lonely she may have felt back home in the other Age she was never going to be willing to hurl herself into a purdah shrouded seraglio for any man, the whole ungainly mess of sharing boils her blood. Thus it was against her sense of self to consider a Circle like her sister. Not only that suggestion or implication to do as the Romans when in Rome, or as the Aes Sedai in the White Tower did, the idea of kissing another girl makes her stomach crawl physically as does the moral value she holds to forbids the casual flirtation with being identified as a homosexual in truth or accepted falsehoods to keep up a charade.

Personal feelings on the matter at hand aside, her estimation of Corilta's plan to place a restraining leash on Harry held both logical self preserving merit and utter abominable vileness to her moral outlook on life. Sitting even higher on her list of sinful acts than homosexual lifestyles does, its implied slavery was not going to take place on her watch. Though she readily sees its ironic station as a perfectly viable plan in the skewed senses of right and wrong in the eyes of the Tower. Aes Sedai of this barbaric Age have codes of morality that are born with a dodgy level of flexibility when playing at games against other Sisters.

"She may have a point, your beau is danger incarnate. I thoroughly concur that he is a likely candidate to be named ta'verin, maybe even one of equal caliber with King Arthur, Charlemagne, or Ghandi back in our native Age. Don't look at me like that. Open your mind and think of how he's shook up all of life as everyone back when. Shaping or maybe reshaping our own destinies in the offing." she reasoned out for her unsettled friend. "What I need to know is how you feel about the Circle and Harjit? How much do you care? How deeply do you truthfully mean to you? This is not a time to waffle on Daphne. We don't have the leisure for any of that nonsense so avoid that prime urge you Slytherins adore."

"I love them with all my heart." her friend answers without an ounce of hesitation or any hedging of the truth Slytherins are wont to do. "My life will never be right or complete without them in it now. That is if it were even possible before all this that has taken place here."

Born out of the ill advised play acting of the Circle as pillow friends to counter and blunt Elaida's nasty rubbish with Luna were images and suppositions best left unexamined. However it took great effort on her part to avoid the nauseating image of the girl and Parvati locked in an unnatural embrace as it popped into her mind despite her fervent belief that her dear twin was not so depraved. Though it was purported to be a known fact that her sister was a full on participant in the disgusting frolics of pillow friends along with Hermione and Ginny, by the reliable witnesses of Ange and Ali.

More unwholesome visions of the lot warred with her focus on the drama at hand, maybe being the root cause of her next question coming out a bit harsher than she'd have preferred, "If that's true. How are you going to make things right for all of you? Are you going to play this off secretly from them, exactly the way a proud Snake back home might dare try to pull? Or are you the honorable witch I know you to be, and do this all on the up and up? I warn you, I'm already about to drown the whole fat lot of you crested hens for forsaking sense and diving head first into each other as tribidas, then to go and cover it all away from Harjit as if he was just a joke to you lot. I know without any reservations that I'd be feeling betrayed, especially after waiting this long to unveil this hard to chew revelation. Don't you think that is the all to likely result here?" She dared the girl to gainsay her on this.

Daphne's head hung low as the girl, replies in a whisper, "I'm not going to argue that. I wish we could say otherwise, but truth is we can't with total certainty. I feel awful and afraid and I've not even taken to acting like Par, Ione, and Gin-Gin. Not that I'm not going to stay distant to them. I've decided I will join them as they are mine just as Harry is. The reasons I had for staying separate don't seem so important now as I've found my own peace with my sexual identity as bisexual and proud of it. I love four girls and our Harjit equally. This is what hurts so much about Corilta's plots. The way she sees us and our love is as tools to use, not real people with a very real love unique to us."

Biting back rising bile in her throat at the irrevocable proof that Par is inverted, Pads has to ask, "Is it love or is it lust? I know temptations to behave badly leads many into dark places."

"Pads, its love. I'm straight, or was till I recognized that I have five soul mates but only one is a wizard. We're not freaks, we just have developed our identities and visions of whom to love differently than is the standard." Daphne explains with a hand on her forearm.

"I can not think on that for the now. Come on you. We need to gather your Circle up and the other witches to prepare for the fallout from this. Plus the Aes Sedai may have other games in store for us." she might have hurt her friend's feelings by jerking her arm away as if the girl carried some horrific incurable disease judging by the glimmer of sadness blossoming in the Slytherin's eyes. "Sorry, I- Just sorry."

"Its okay, its not unexpected." Daphne reacts in stiff formality.

Hurrying back up the ladder way, Padma leads the Slytherin in a chase to dig up their other witch friends and the rest of the Circle. This gathering of allies and the offending Circle did not take long. It also helped decide that enough was enough. Her sister- as much as she adores the daft will-o'-the-wisp witch- was through with playing dangerous love games with people's hearts. Figuring out this right awful mess tonight was imperative. For good or ill, this incomprehensible mire of Pillow Friends and the surly lunkhead Harjit had went on for too long. Settling it one way or another should never have taken this long if everyone involved had just been honest and open. It may hurt these six imbeciles at this moment, but then again hearts are not toys to pick up and discard out of a cruel pique. Letting the situation roll on unaddressed like this was very similar to chucking out a precious gift to let it be chewed on savagely by feral dogs simply for the fun of it. Some of the why's Harry couldn't select on of those five after him, Padma had to grudgingly concede as valid. He was undeniably dying from a villainous disease, but to go along with the madness of being shared was simply begging for heartache. However the girls she adores as friends as well as her sister choosing to letting their freak flags fly by diving into each other's knickers, yet hiding from Harry, was inexcusable.

It wasn't too difficult to harness the others into action to put this unwholesome drama to bed. Amongst the fellow outsiders to the baffling love hexagon, it was a constant worry and topic of speculation. Neither was it too rigorous to round up the five goose girls to force them into hashing their own messy relationship out was something they too were fretting over. Sickening as it were to know that her twin gets hot and bothered over other girls, Pads fears for Par's tender heart being torn to shreds by some slattern like the one to destroy their cousin's life.

Yet it also was turning out to also be a real chore to deal with any of the Circle this night as her personal prejudices were marring her civility speaking with Par in particular. Her dislike of homosexuality spiked her voice as she spoke to her sister in the private nook they set up for the sextuple to speak freely from the interference of others, "Par, if you are as queer as a two headed knut, tell me why you fought so bloody hard to lay claim to Harjit at all? Why not pick yourself one of the other fruitish witches and let him be? Did it not seem wrong to you at all to go playing with these others hearts? Its all well and good to preen and strut like you do now and again to call yourself a heart breaker, but to truly do it is beneath the girl I thought I was born with. Light Parvati, you created a right nightmare for us this time." Padma spat in Hindi out of anger and anxiety by habit picked up from their mother.

"I'm sorry Pads to yet again be such a disappointment to you. I did not do this all to be a royal pain in your arse." Par snaps with the stinging pain of being slapped by her. "How awful it must be for you to be forever linked to a rotten bit of brainless pretty like myself. I did it all to hurt you, choosing to find other girls far more interesting to view and want to have as mine like a boy might. Shame on me, truly."

The bitterness in that was not fresh as it sounded as if it has suppurated into a rather heart killing infection. Not that it wasn't expected, their mother has been a right terror for them growing up. Par is the pretty and beloved one if Pads was to judge things, as a seemingly proper witch in all ways. Surprise, surprise said perfection wasn't there as the girl was prone to witchly abomination. Yet their mother does have a tendency of playing them off against one another, with little left handed comments or praise that cut ribbons in the pair all their lives.

Swallowing down bile at knowing she herself has been on display for all five of these tribidas at some point or other, she strives to stay focused. Later she'll empty her stomach of its contents out of disgusting thoughts that they may have been enjoying the fantasies of such girls with her in the starring roles. More so her own sister than the others gave her stomach the churning of needing a right immediate purging.

"Par your not the pain in my arse you think you are. I love you but you have to admit this is a disaster." she tries to sooth her sister's feelings.

"I'll disagree with that assessment. I know the family has been aching for an excuse to sell me off in some contract so that they can get you better chances to dazzle us with your brilliance." Parvati was battling tears as they fought. "Just admit it that you're the favorite for once Pads."

"Favorite?" Padma was left stunned by that misconception. "Par you're the pretty one they pamper and get excited by when you get things come in like your perfect breasts and legs."

"I'm not fighting this out with you now Pads. You insisted we be at this now so could you be the one to go get our Harry for me... us. Please, as you lot are not letting one of us do so." Par took to begging that last, reminding her of Pads' own insistence the Circle stay put to start getting their weird relationships out in the open. Then adding with venom, "I know you hate me now for being the freak I've kept buried so long."

Taking a deep breath she corrected her twin, "Hate is far too strong and all consuming word. Disappointment is more apropos. You were raised properly like myself, one lone fact I know is irrefutable. So pardon me if I struggle in seeing how you've become this way. When I heard your plan to help Luna, I understood, but then again you never do a single thing by halves, do you Par. You just had to go out and become a queer to prove to me and our family we're different and that you can and will do whatever you wish never you mind any consequences."

"Pads," Par caught her arm with an iron grip before they can part., "I may have made my choices in life differently than you would have. I may have acted opposite how you think is proper and right, but please remember it is my life. You and me are still sisters but we've both known that our fates were bound for far differing ports. My port is with my Circle and my Harjit not with where the family elders decide I can earn them more coin. I decided this on my own but it took me years to see my path. Their kicking out our cousin sped me along this route but it wasn't all because of her. She and I are very much similar and feel the same about love and what is a family for us including a shared desire for the love other women over a man's. I only shade different from her in that I do find a few men I'd call worth a girls time. You have one of them and I have the other. Whereas Cousin-"

Jerking herself free Padma hisses, "Don't say it! You know her name is forbidden! We shouldn't even mention her in the open like this. Par she- she chose to hurt us, her family. For what Par? For a tart wanting a taste of exotic curried jam before ditching her in a hole for another conquest. You're nothing like her just as your Circle are not that paddy fluffed slattern, but the elders will still curse your name just as swiftly. Did you think what mum, dad, and I will go through when those money grubbing ancient sods in Hyderabad will do in reaction to you bucking the will of the family's right to see you wed to a wealthy wizard to line their pockets?" she let go and unleashed her personal hurt that her twin was going to be flung from the family. Exiled and forbidden for Padma to ever think on, let alone ever seek out for the love of a sister.

"I'm not going to be sharing her fate, though to have those I love I would take whatever they try daring to dish out on me. I've found a wizard that we all in the Circle love, we just love one another as much as we do him. Shame on us. Shame on us trying to be happy with each other before we all gladly end up married to the same man. Then again I'd wager high all those rotten sods will see is I've been a good little cast off extra daughter by finding myself a somewhat coin rich wizard who collects a nice fine selection of pretties, women and girls like far too many of them do themselves. And those the decent moderately civil ones too boot." Parvati's bitterness was heavy in the air, "I- I never did this to hurt you or mum and dad. Yes, Pads for all intents and purposes by what any outside the Circle and our Harjit sees, I am a filthy cauldron stirring abomination of a femme goose girl who aches to share my bed with beautiful girls and women, but the truth is I have been Harry's witch since before our Age took shape as the Pattern created me, my Circle and Harjit for one another. Regardless of our genders we are born this way for sharing each other. Why it did this I don't care to ask as it might take away my blessings. You talk about Neville as if the sun and moon were hung in the sky for him and yourself, but you refuse to see that it's the same for me and how I feel that way about all my five soul mates. We in the Circle are Harjit's and love him more than any simple words in any language can describe. So please go get him for us. Please... We won't let this destroy us all. Trust us in this, even if we truly confuse and disgust you."

Inhaling a deep briny breath of air, Pads bit off her words in harsh reply, "I don't relish thinking of my precious, brash, free spirited twin sister as- as what our cousin was. But I do still love and want to trust you, Par. I'll retrieve your wizard, but on the condition you best be careful with all your lovers' hearts. Their nearly as treasured by me as you are yourself."

Why she couldn't face herself and look at her sister, whom was hurting terribly, she was loath to explore. Having to recognize that her sister was participating in love between women of the brand that is abomination makes her sick to her core. But that did nothing to lessen the sisterly love she holds for the silly Circle. Par, Ione, Luna, Gin-Gin, and Daph were not just any gaggle of geese with a taste for the taboo. Treating them awful made her heart sick with self loathing.

Wiping away tears that were building in her eyes she left the Circle. Making her way somehow to the upper decks, she is caught by Neville. Holding her steady by her shoulders, he checks to see if she is doing alright without a word spoken. Instead he begins reporting into her as any good Warder does for his Aes Sedai, "He's up here but we let him sleep. Blimey if he doesn't need it too. And judging by what the Twins could hear in English he's fading back to how he was before reaching Tar Valon. He's taken on too much and is drawing on what Slytherin was lost to in order to save us. What of the Circle? Are they ready for him to come down to them."

She stared at him struggling to not crumble from the built up worry she's been holding in.

Gathering her in close to him he lets her feel his protective embrace and love. In the encircling safety of his powerful arms and will to protect her from all dangers, she breaks down and lets out a long held back soft low sob into his chest. Losing Par like their cousin was too deep a cut to take in stoic silence expected of a Tower trained witch and woman of her Line back home.

Swallowing in a whimper she tries to say what is on her heart, "Nev, I knew the Tower had poisoned us all-."

"Shh..." he let her cry for a long heart cleansing time, even if she proceeded in drenching his shirt for it, "Pads, she isn't a child, she's chose her life's path for good or ill, even if it is outside of what we'd find acceptable. Be comforted that her lovers are who they are, not a one are evil manipulative bints or, rotter in Harjit's case. In fact they may not have much of a wicked bone among the lot of them in the slightest. Well at least when it comes to love and friendship that is as Harry is wicked scary in a fight."

"I know that Nev." she sniffles into his shirt.

"My point Pads is that your worry over Par is only eating you up on the inside. She won't go the way of your nameless cousin. Besides, we all may not ever get home and with us wizards having Slytherin's Downfall hunting us, especially Harjit, that lot of loony birds may be who rescues you and the other witches." he explained in a quiet straight forwardness that stung. "Five wands are harder to snap in one go than a lone if strong rod."

"I love you Nev... I'll not survive you long if you go." she confesses imploringly in his arms.

"Please don't talk that way, Pads. Promise me you'll find a bloke who'll care for and love you as I do. Light Harry may be onto something if his witches can still have one another when he goes. Pads I want you to be cared for. When I go, it won't be pretty. If it takes it for you to survive me, join Par's Circle. Maybe not as a crested hen unless it helps you get through, but at least as a companion." her love spoke with a quiet resignation to what she refused to hear.

He'll live for a very long happy life with her thank you very much. And kindly bugger off if you don't wish to agree with her.

Not ever wishing to name the devil haunting her Nev and male friends, she fled as swiftly as her skirted legs could on this wallowing sea cow of a ship.

She'll find Harry and then return to the cabin the girls shared in order for her to pour herself back into doing some vital research of a viable cure for the five boys.

Unfortunately it took an extraordinarily long time to locate the boy on her own, but it was her lone option if she were to remain refusing to speak to any of the boys as they were all too entrenched in this fatalism. Harjit's ability to vanish in tiny nooks and notches was proving frighteningly impressive she discovers to her chagrin. When she did uncover him, he was fitfully asleep in behind some rain barrels where there was no lamp light available. His twitching and writhing as if deflecting blows raining down on his body while whimpering for some Unka to stop, burned in her heart a hatred for many an older member of the male species whom see no wrong in crushing a child.

"Merlin Harjit... Who hurt you so badly?" she whispers in Hindi while kneeling down beside him. Her left hand brushing aside his sweaty wild hair from his mouth and eyes, causing him to flinch away, curling himself as if ready for her to thrash him even as he slept.

Par and the Circle have a hard row to hoe with one as cruelly raised as he must have been. Her Nev was a challenge enough for her as some of his kin were right rotten gits, but he'd been shown love some times. Yet one startling fact was that one old blithering idiot or vile sodding hypocrite, was at root cause for both boys horrific childhoods in her mind.

"One day Dumbledore, we'll settle up some long overdue debts. One day..." she vows with fervent wholehearted dedication, then wakes her sister's man with a soft nudge.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For a night that had held so much promise of restful sleep, it was swiftly collapsing down into a prime case study in how best laid plans often as not get a rough tossing by outside forces more often as not. Being brusquely woken up by her twin sister, bracketed by Ange and Ali, while Tracey held a teary eyed Daphne in the wee hours of the morning did nothing to endear the coming day to the slumbering Circle. Vigorously rubbing away the sticky sleep in her eyes to gain focus, Parvati's major wish was to comfort her distraught Snake. Upon learning in the process why her love was in such a state set a fiery blaze in the Circle that cried out for the teaching of some very direct lessons to the arrogant nosey Sisters. Not that it was unexpected that the Sisters would wish to force the Hogwarts witches into staying the course set for Salidar, but to think up a plan to manipulate the love in the Circle to accomplish it was almost unforgivable. Addressing all of that backroom plotting must be put on the back burner for the time being though as they had other dire missteps to correct this unusually calm morning. Setting their house in proper order first and foremost will help them counteract any undesired outside meddling more effectively than if they simply heaved the relatively civil Sisters over the rails.

Who knows if they may one day end up needing one or more of their nominal allies in these three.

For the now Par's Circle was having to face facts about their own culpability and mounting insecurities. A distasteful chore that is never lightly done in the best of times in secure privacy with the aid of a carefully crafted plan. Doing so now, on this leaky tub of tar and patch lumber at more or less wand point with hardly a shred of true privacy, made this anything but ideal conditions. Blessings be that at least the Sisters had not been in total accord with waiting to approach Daphne. If they had it may have turned hideously ugly in a hurry if the nosey Aes Sedai had attempted to pry this can of worms open later today by pulling aside Daphne and herself when Harjit may see or hear things the Circle has been juggling quietly till they thought themselves ready for him to know.

With the agitated but willing aid of their friends, whom all were giving them withering "We told you so!" glares. They worked out a hasty plan to present the truth of things to Harry now, ahead of the plots of the Sisters on board this scow with them. It wasn't a well laid out one with a thousand little spell proof bullet points that would lead him to see the whole story and how he was not losing them, but it would have to do.

As Tracey so snippily phrased it with disgust at their odd union's mutual love and open gender equal passion, "If you wish to keep the only good wizard who may still love you all and not simply lust after your lot's truly queer ways, tell him now or we will. If you don't we'll give you lot the heave over the side so he doesn't sink this bloody tub of tar."

So this is how Parvati found her pre-breakfast morning to be screened off from the muggle crew by muggle repelling notice-me-not charms, encircled by One Power tricking illusions, and heavily warded for sound. Her and her Circle have all been unceremoniously gathered and tucked away in the furthest back clear portion of the ship's hold. Orangish lamplight swings and sways above then, creating a dizzying shadow show as the dark nooks ebb and flow in the tideal forces at work in heaving the Fair Eyed Lad about. In this unwholesome lighting, her girlfriends' lighter toned worry laden features appear on the sicklier side of the equation. Then again that may be her own overwrought stomach's influence in coloring her personal view of events. An all too likely possibility what with the dread of losing any of her loves this morning.

Having set about explaining what Ione, Gin-Gin, and herself have been up to out of sight of Luna and Harry to their dear but scarred Ravenclaw, Parvati loathed that she only a short window of time allowed here before Harjit is to be brought in. In this rushed rough overview, her treasured unspoken first true girlfriend may get the wrong idea that they were wishing to push the girl into being a sexual partner or else lose their friendships. That was well outside the truth of things but victims of such vile sorts like Elaida can be sensitive to the ideas that they must perform or are unloved. A fact that Ginny supplied this information from personal experience torn at Par's heart just as knowing her lovable innocent Luna faced it from the Red Hag.

With palpable dread bestowing a wicked case of goose flesh, hammering heartbeat, and souring taste in her mouth she cautiously questions her often confusing but always adorable first girlfriend, "Luna, are you alight with this, our arraignments between Ione, Gin, and myself? We know that filthy old slag did things to you. To hurt you and steal you from us and yourself, so we were- well still are- afraid we'd scare you away if we carried on in front of you. We-"

Spectral anguish in their sweet tiny love's wide blue eyes had been regarding her mysteriously in the hideous orange hued light, frightening her into stopping her babbled speech. However Luna's soft worded response pulled the stinger from her fears, "I'm more than alright. Its my dream come true, since we came here to this Age. You see I've been growing quite madly in love with all of you and our Harry, which has led to some rather nasty infestations of wrackspurts. Though kisses from Harjit have banished many of the worst, our restricted access to him has been proving to be source of others. With what you are proposing I feel a bit light headed as this unfetters my heart from the fears that I was a freakish abomination in our Circle for the depth of my emotions for the lot of you. Especially you Par, as I've secretly thought of you as my witch for a while now. It is rather nice to know that I was justified in my feelings and that I have all my soul mates in truth. If I wasn't so weary from this trip I'd be fearful that this is a dream as I now have all those whom I've found my heart belongs to, and ravenously longs for day and night as mine in spite of my fears. Though I do feel it need said in warning that I am not wholly myself yet, even with Harry's aid in caring for me. Maybe now, knowing that I am safe to be myself with and amongst all of you, I'll be allowed to find myself all the sooner. Nargles can take Elaida's slave collar from me, and good riddance. Yet the slave I was made into beseeches me to beg of you to be patient, for more, much more time is needful in rebuilding whom I once was, and do so wish to be again. That girl, woman, is the witch who deserves our lovely beau Harry, and our Circle. Harry has been so very gentle and kind in allowing me and him to come to an understanding that I need to wait to be joined in flesh as well as our blending of mind and soul. Would it be too great an imposition if I wish for the same tolerance from all of you as my beloved girlfriends, as it will take longer for me to be at ease physically even though I so dearly wish it otherwise. For the now, my tummy turns sickly at most physical contact with another person, save from Harry."

If Par could reach out across the many leagues that separates them from Tar Valon, she'd carve out the still beating heart of that malignant Red Hag. How dare someone try ruining such a sweet innocent beautiful angel? The wicked shrew must have a heart dug up out from the bottom of the foulest bog pit there is to relish such cruelty.

To assure her love that she was willing and able to wait for eternity and longer if need be for her Luna to return her affections, Parvati states her feelings without reservation, "Luna, I'll forever wait for you. You won my heart when we had to be each others secret, it can wait for how ever long you need to feel ready for us to take our next steps together."

Taking a cue from there, Gin-Gin takes Daphne's hands in hers to ask delicately of their Snake skinned Badger, "Daph, Love, how about you? Like Luna we'll never push you if you're uncomfortable with us being physical in our relationships with you. As a pureblood I know this is a huge leap to fling oneself into. I promise we'll love you just as deeply as each other if you choose to never be into kissing or other touching of each other with us. I'm madly in love with you, and will stay yours no matter how far or not that you wish to share with me. My heart has built a nice little cottage for you as my girlfriend, my Snake Sister and lover. Our hearts are yours and out of our love for you we are ready to go however far you're willing to go."

Giving them a weighted stare that left Par on pins and needles, Daphne sat there saying nothing whatsoever. Nerves about unlimbered her tongue to beg a word one way or another till a wide Cheshire Smile split their serpentine love's face into an impishness that stunned them after the worrying silence. Leaning into Ginny where they sat on a stack of bagged wool, their raven headed lover captures their red head's lips in a seemingly chaste nibbling kiss with a soft sigh of delight. It grew as Daphne set her lips to venturing out to kissing both of Gin's sweet freckled face cheeks before returning to tasting the younger witch's now open and hungry lips. Then let Gin-Gin lightly suck in those questing lips to also savor the tender moment. With a light devilish bite of their firebug's bottom lip, the one time Slytherin broke the spellbinding first lesbian kiss for the ultra conservative Daphne. When Gin-Gin begins to pull away in thinking that this was as far as their relationship timid girlfriend was willing to go for now, Daphne surprises the lot of them by growling and possessively cupping the freckled cheeks of their younger witch, "Oh no you don't Luv. I've been having feverish dreams of this for absolutely too bloody long. Straight or not each of you have been making me as unbearably randy as our Harry does. Especially you Ginevra Molly Weasley, my young should've been Sister Snake. Ever since catching sight of Par and Ione snacking on your lovely little bubbies that night in the Tower I've been having a rougher time sleeping. Dreams are fun and all, but the real thing is so much better one tiny taste is not near enough Missy Miss."

Eyes twinkling with longing, Gin-Gin let the older girl pull them back together for a deeper kiss while taking a cautious but daring bold step by caressing Daphne's sides. Feeling that their Snake's own left hand sought out and found a new home upon their fiery witch's breast. Letting out a cute pleased eep into the older witch's mouth, Ginny took this as permission to find equal delights to explore. But stops when Daphne's hands stop Ginny's roaming pair. Disappointment burns in the red heads eyes only to be replaced by shock when Daph's hands unlace the blouse top in the way of Gin's explorations, shrugging open the top for them all to see and Ginny to feel the shift clad breasts of their newly active lover. A treat the red head wastes zero time in venturing in with gusto, eliciting moans of sublime pleasure from both witches.

It was a sight Par felt long overdue and exciting, more so after dwelling in fear of Daphne and Luna's rejection of being their girlfriends.

Hearing Luna's tiny giggled mew of pent up desire chorusing with their snogging Circlemates gave her hope too. Turning to take in the sight of her first girlfriend's expression, she is overjoyed to see the brave darling was beaming, though ghostly threads of what happened in the Tower were still haunting those heavenly wide blue eyes.

Meeting her gaze Luna's soft voice came close to singing in Par's ears, "Its as beautiful as I dreamt it would be. There is nothing like it in Elaida's sickness. Parvati, I love you so much I think I can hardly wait, but I know I must till it won't hurt us."

Hermione's arms drew her from just standing their watching their lovers enjoy the Circle's love to participating as her brunet lover's soft chocolate eyes melted her will to worry over the still missing Harjit. "Par I think this is all going to work out. We love each other, and I know Harry is our wizard full and total."

"I hope. Ione, I never thought I'd be this madly in love with a boy, but I am." Par voices her feelings needlessly as they all shared this intense need for him. He was like no other wizard alive for them, it was as if he and they were one and all created for one another by the Pattern.

Pressing their foreheads together, Hermione held her gaze, an entrancing vision as the other witch's eyes were a depths less sea of knowledge she could swim in for girls were sexy as hell for her and always will be.

"Par, I'm worried to but I trust in all our loves. A love you awoke in me and now I must confess its as delicious as mulled wine." her Hermione purrs confidently, "I'm trusting you're wisdom and stability as I'm pants in relationship matters."

"I'd never notice as you have me well and truly caught." she giggles waterily, brealking their gaze for a second or two for clarity and saw Gin-Gin's top was pulled almost wholly off along with the shift beneath for Daphne to finger and play with those small freckled but very much perfect breasts Par has tasted herself. Apparently Daphne thought the same to Ginny's emmense pleasure as the red head was panting open mouthed joy pressing the other girl's head down for further feasting. Returning to Ione's gaze she sees the sight was arousing for them both.

A fire in Hermione's eyes summon her like a moth to a candle flame in a taste of heaven. Slow and deliberate they closed the distance between them for a sensual meeting of their very familiar lips, but none the less addicting territory for them. Their lips and hands knew one another rather well indeed as they melded into one another as a singular being in two bodies. Stunning her though was Hermione's hand guiding hers up under the brunet's skirt to caress bare thigh and bum. When she did so with relish, she further surprised by her lover pressing them against a support beam for balance before having her other hand join the first to form a seat for Hermione to straddle her while standing. It only worked with the aid of an Air and Fire weave, once done it was mind melting for them.

Craving each other like this and as best friend soul mates, the Circle was finding itself a whole entity unto themselves. They were not going to destroy themselves, so she let herself lose focus and time, toss her self restraint in the boot, and let her love for these other witches drive for the moment. An easy decision with her Hermione's body pressed into and wrapped around hers while the girl was whimpering and moaning her name in reverential desire. For her, every one of her lovers were an addiction that was more life altering and irresistible than any drug or drink that mankind has ever invented.

Luna, watching on the edge perched on a crate of some dry goods, was beatific as their eyes met. Crossing the river and bridges to enter Tar Valon, to bend knee to the White tower and become Aes Sedai may have cost them their innocence, but also they have discovered they need not fear being bound up to the shadowy world of a purdah. Why fear what they constructed for themselves and selected their mutual and sole wizard Warder husband to stand by them? Standing together as one with each other they can withstand all whom criticize, malign, and hate them for their sexual identities they've chosen to embrace in themselves. In each others arms was a safe haven for them unlike at home where Parvati woke up every day dead scared that it was going to be the one she was to end up being outed by chance. At home they were unusual and strange at best to their friends in the know, freakish abominations in need of burning alive at the stake by most in their world if discovered to be as they are. It was so frightening that she only knew of Lav and a scant handful of others like them back home. Well those not in a Magdalene House, if lucky, or Azkaban, if not so favored.

Even then many who were lovers of other witches would not accept them as they were rarer still as bisexual and proud of it. Lav and Penelope were like as not the sole others out there back home if she were to bet on it.

"Candlestick of the Holy White Flame, we're one and the same as our fires of Spirit fuse to singular perfection by our love. Whole our Circle is the Key to Rebirth of He Whom Rules the Murder and Rides the White Banner to battle the Ancient Foe of All. From She Whom Owns the Hearts Chest to She Who is Exiled in Dreams, we are his. Saving Him for us will save She Who Bars the Stone and her Unshackled Heart Holder, whose loves will encourage Him in the darkest hours." Luna speaks in an eery other worldly voice so completely different to the one the girl was born with. Shaking off some haze their airy lover titters in the dreamy voice they all knew and love. "Surprising that. Maybe one day I'll return to normal and See the world again as I should. Elaida blinded me by her games, but that bit gives me hope. I have been catching more and more flickers if I forget the Dark emptiness Elaida locked me up inside of to better please her. Too bad I wasn't prepared for that or I may have had one of you write it down for me to study later."

Parting some from her Hermione states with concern, "Do not worry over if it will be lost as I've a talent with memorization. I just hope that didn't say what I'd rather not be the case for us all."

Petting Hermione's glorious soft curly hair, Par asks tenderly their Seer lover with concern, "What makes you forget the pain?"

"That is simple really, Par. The joy and love of my loved ones." Luna glowed in answer, adding with a shy blush rouging those adorable pale cheeks the girl was blessed with, "Its rather stimulating as I know I'm equally as desirable and longed for when I'm one day ready to participate with no reservations."

Giggling girlishly, Hermione suggests to her, Daphne, and Ginny, whom were all listening in to Luna's possible Vision of the Pattern's plans. "Well ladies, lets see to our Luna's special treatments. It's a prescription that is stimulating to me as well."

"Yes lets." Par returned with an impishly inviting eyebrow waggle for them all, causing Luna to launch into a full body laugh alongside Ginny and Daphne, Hermione though took the invitation with dedicated seriousness by unlacing both their tops to match their already bared laughing lovers. Soon Par was too caught up in snogging and petting Hermione as their breasts dueled with delicious clashes of hardening nipples. Something she heard and felt Ione was enthusiastically enjoying too by becoming a mewling puddle in her arms.

A sight that had their lovers enraptured as Luna was fidgeting with an intrigued head cock and surreptitious self touches. Ginny took it as invitation to devour Daphne's neck, chest, and now bared belly while the older girl urging the red head on with some naughty murmurs.

Yes things had turned out far better than she'd been certain it would be for so long now. All she could ask for more was their wizard in here with them. Their friends may all be straight and disgusted by such intimacies between her Circle and Harry, but the lot were not them. Pads has Neville and is happy, and she is happy for her mirror self, but this was Par's life and it was what makes life hold color for her.

Lost in the sensation of Hermione's hands seeking a home below her skirt she is lost to time and place. Harry must not have been able or wished to come down to see them this early she had just about convinced herself of by the rampant unrestrained power of her hormones and loves' sounds of passion.

This is until their passions were doused by a very masculine voice squawking in utter shock.

"Oh bugger me sideways! Sorry to- to.. Uh.. To interrupt- uh- this" her Harjit stammers out, freezing her ardor to absolute nothing in her fear of losing her wizard returning in full strength. "Wow! Never saw this coming."

A surreal moment of where everything slows down like it were moving through thick gel strikes the small hidden gathering in the lowest hold of the Fair Eyed Lad. Parvati herself is caught in a whirling maelstrom of emotions as she whips around to see her love, her chosen wizard. Why the Pattern thrives on tormenting her she'd rather fancy a kind explanation for. Just when she was getting to a point she felt the world was right and open to her existence it through loops in her and her loves' path they were unready for.

Leaping apart and covering themselves partially in a disorderly jumble from surprise, with ice water replacing most of the lifeblood in her hammering heart, she scrambles to find her feet on this wave tossed tub of tar. A similar battle for her Circlemates whom had all been lost in the joy of becoming united in their shared hopes and love sealing their Circle as one solid band. When she had her feet under her more or less, she is rewarded with an image of Harjit leaning tiredly by one steadying hand on the stacked sell goods their Captain has hopes of selling in Ebou Dar and elsewhere. His eyes were red rimmed and matched in a weird way his crimson tinted cheeks.

Feeling nauseous and stupid she fights down a bout of bile that he may not understand what was going on here. Parvati and her Circlemates pull themselves a little bit more back into a hasty semblance of order out of reflex alone as they met Harry's weary hurt gaze. Icy heat burnishes her own face and extremities as she meets his fluctuating gaze on them. The irony that this were to be a meeting to salvage their relationships with one another and him in particular was not missed by her, though under his wear worn green eyed stare, this moment's humorous undertones seemed ghastly. This was the man, the catalyst responsible for opening hearts to sharing their lives with him together instead of choosing to rip apart their friendships to win him as theirs alone. Similar to how their Luna and the girl's plight was the key that unlocked the doors to their secreted away closets to not only share him, but each other as well.

Cursing herself under her breath for getting carried away with how incredible it was for her girlfriends all choosing to love each other openly, she tries to get her head back on straight.

"Harry?" she hears Gin-Gin ask in an emotion throbbing voice on the edge of cracking apart.

"Uh..." he tries to speak while starting to avoid meeting their eyes, but when he gazes on the fully he blurts out in a squeaky grunt as his blush grows in severity, "Definitely didn't see this. Merlin and Light I- I'm sorry. Uh, Pads said I was needed here. Blimey for a wool gathering nodcock for not anticipating this even."

He seemed to be manfully striving not to look at them full on, but when he does get cornered by them he lights up a fresh with his cute crimson blush that takes in his ears, face, neck, and hands.

Taking a cautious step towards her boyfriend, Par sets herself to salvaging this all, "We- Harjit, we didn't mean to hurt you. We all love you, its just-."

His haunted eyes cut her off as he turns them fully on to her, the intensity of his stare made her breathing a difficult proposition at best, but this making her also feel both that and an odd certainty that he was pleading for her to be patient with him for the now.

Meanwhile Daphne whimpers, 'We do love you Harry. We really do."

Creaking of the ship is all there is of ambient noise to fill the awkward silence blanketing them.

Bravely Ione explains, "We learned we love one another as well as you in the Tower. Harjit, to us you are our sole wizard still, and hopefully you'll not cast our love away. For our futures together as man and wives is one thing that gave us something to keep fighting for in the Tower, in this life itself if I'm truthful."

Rubbing his eyes and taking a seat on a crate, his stare encompasses all five of them at once. How he hasn't said much of anything directly to them puts a fright in them.

A determined, if ill looking, Luna slips a hand into Par's own to draw her along in nearing their gobsmacked beau. "What are you feeling Harry? Please talk with us. Don't try shunting us away as it will only end in hurting both you and us."

Frowning with visible effort to process this, he leans forward to rest his sleep starved head in his hands. The red rimming his weary eyes highlight his confusion and exhaustion as he examined them under the dirty orange lamplight.

Hermione joined her and Luna by taking Par's free hand murmuring, "Harry please hear us out."

He looked up to meet their gaze with a ragged appearing weariness. Setting his jaw as if at the edge of saying something to them, he takes on a weighing pensiveness. That judging look hurt them deeper and deeper the longer he remains silent with them. In the periphery of her vision, she saw Daph and Gin-Gin take up Luna's other flank. Both as frightened as herself, but not running away in shame as would be expected of pureblood witches involved in a conversation like that which they had been in.

"Blimey..." he said again, then he zeroed in on her by meeting her own eyes to the exclusion to all else in existence, pinning her in place, "Is this why you are so broken up by what happened to your cousin?"

She forgot she'd told him the whole sordid deal of that event in her life. "Some. I'm not her, I still would be considered a disappointing witch to my family. They would not be pleased by my dating you without a long term agreement in hand. One in which profits the elders, for my relations back in Hyderabad. Then again my mum and dad would be upset at my choice to be in a seraglio of sorts even if this is nothing of the like. All of them would be united in decrying our mutual love that you've seen and heard of here. Never you mind I love and want my life as part of yours. You, myself, and our Circle standing as equals in each others eyes is my dream, but that is considered a wicked evil desire as witches are to serve in absolute silence to their wizard."

He nods some, with his eyes losing focus on her as they go into a distant unseeing gaze, then he snorts unexpectedly in a mirthless chuckle, "Now I understand why every bloody friend of ours, and none too few bare acquaintances, have been jumpy as all get out when it comes to you lot. Par, is this why you were said to be more likely in Hermione's cell than your own back in the Tower? Theodran was saying, but not saying a bloody thing when I came to get you to escape Elaida's coup. Then everybody else acts like I'm so delicate or mental, I'm half a second away from breaking down into a bloody minded nutter whenever I'm looking for any of you. Blimey if its not every time I even dare think of or wish to talk about you lot as far as that goes. Mental is all I thought of that nonsense till now."

Shrugging on her big girl's dress and her Gryffindor bravery, she swallows back some fear laden bile to answer, "We didn't expect falling in love Harjit. When Ione said you are our sole wizard, she's spot on. At the Tower... Now don't go blaming yourself as you had no power to do a single thing there. Forget all your brainwashing by Dumbledore and hear us out. At the Tower things happened to us that shook our senses of security and independence. In the surviving those events we needed to link ourselves to one another to stay sane and alive. Hunkered down together as we were, we realized what we felt for one another was more than simple friendship, or comradery of our mutual situation of sharing you. What we discovered is that we need one another as strongly as we need you. We can't speak for what others see exactly when they see us, and at this point I could care less as we are whom we are. You are ours as are we yours, and we are all the Circle's. Others don't know us truly even if they are our friends or family. Those events in the Tower shown us that we are only strong enough to face down life together. So we could care less how or why they react to us the way they do as they are outside this love that binds us all here."

A new silence pervades the nook following that. His nods of thought were growing irksome for her as she desperately wished to hear his thoughts. Her father was just as maddening as he took in what was said or done around him. Something Pads says is a bad habit of Neville's as far as that goes. It must be that the whole male gender was born with an unwholesome and definitely unhelpful bent towards being laconic at the worst times.

Hermione tries to reach him again, "We swear we've not fell out of love with you, we just recognized we love one another too. As Par said we're stronger together as we compliment each other. We were just trying to find the right way to tell you and fully codify for ourselves what we are. The strain of recent events has been hampering us in doing this when we all could've been more calmer."

He took a deep slow breath then spoke, stinging them dreadfully by his view of things here, "I hope by now, considering all we've lived through together, you would know you can trust me completely. Or maybe I should say hoped as you clearly don't."

Fresh ice in her blood chills her by that admission she didn't anticipate. A tragic oversight on her part if he left them over this loss of trust in his opinion of their trust in him. Their imprudence and dithering may well have just cost them the lone wizard any of them felt fit enough to share their lives.

Luna let go of her and Gin's hands to troop solemnly up before their man to announce in that soft airy way they knew and loved, "We trust you implicitly, but sometimes in some things we forget to trust ourselves or what we know. The White Tower was not a gentle home for us as it taught us more lessons than those of the ways of Saidar, it instructed us vigorously in the bitter gifts of humility and self doubt. Trust is something we lost in ourselves and our vocabulary for a time. Novices learn a dizzying array of coping mechanisms, ours was by inter twinning our lives with not only yours, but each of ours as well. We were our own Rocks of Gibralter to pin our hopes of a future on to defend ourselves from invasion and failure by the acts of unfriendly outsiders. It is not a bad place we've built for ourselves and you in our hearts."

Gazing up into Luna's wide blue eyes, he began to battle an inner storm surge forming a deluge of tears in his own eyes to match theirs. "What in all the Light did they do to my angels? Light I'm the one cursed to become a mad monster, but you lot must have been broken in ways that isn't right for people to be twisted around. I know you're all human, and imperfect, but- but to me you all were sweeter, more beautiful than words, and by far braver than anyone I knew. Especially that last compared to me. But they seem to have stole that from you if you can't see that in yourselves enough to trust yourselves. Keeping you lot safe, happy and loved has become my main reason to live on in spite of everything. Looks like I failed that though."

Pursing her lips into a thin pained line, Luna responds by taking custody of his face in her gentle but nevertheless firm hands. "Harry don't mourn for us. We died some back there, but not completely. Just as you are not dead yet either, though we fear for you greatly. Harry with you and our Circle we all can live through any misadventure or trial as we are strong for one another. Our suffering and yours are in symmetrical parity on parallel courses. You worry for us and what is barring our paths, but my love we feel as equally vexed by what lays in your path."

He was quiet again but thankfully not too long for their already frayed nerves. Standing he drew in Luna by her waist while she still held his face. Leaning over he kisses the girl with a tender softness that made Par wonder if he were afraid to break the tiny Ravenclaw. A wearied grace to his movements reminded her and their girlfriends how magnificent a specimen of the wizard species he is. Though it was hard not to giggle at how adorable it was to see his blush at swaying a bit drunkenly from the heavy pitch and roll of the ship.

"Light I'm a bit off this morning." he said looking and sounding quite knackered. He wasn't done speaking though, "Tell me honestly, can I trust you lot to trust me here on out?"

Luna surreptitiously slid under his arm to become a human crutch in aiding him in keeping his feet and dignity, saying in that soft way of her's, "With all our beings. Can we hold the same as true for you as well?"

Nodding in reply, he is once more falling into his frustrating contemplative silence. Studying them for a moment he then asks them bluntly, "Do you honestly think I was oblivious to what some witches got up to in the White Tower? Some didn't even care if us Warders and trainees saw it going on. Two bloody Yellows and their ruddy Brown friend were still lazing about in bed in their all'n'alls when I reported in to their summons to attempt a study of my scar. Bloody set were less interested in me and more than randy enough to have me gone. The three wasted so little time in being at it they didn't even wait till I was away following their dismissal at the side of a thoroughly scandalized Accepted escort. That time and others shown me how the wind blew among the women of the Tower. I never imagined you lot picking up even a hint of it."

"Are you mad. Does our Circle- Do we disgust you?" Par let slip in question of her love's true feelings about the Circles being as close as they were.

"Mad? No. Not in the least. Well unless being sad is what you mean." he blurts out in confession leaning heavily on Luna.

"Sad?" Gin-Gin asks with open faced fear.

"Yes sad. What all I've heard from you and the rest makes me sad." he sighs with an owlish blink or two.

"We- Are you- Oh crickets..." Hermione the human encyclopedia and dictionary struggles to find words. "We didn't mean-."

Harjit grew soft while tenderly stretching out his free hand to give them all a brushing touch, Of course I'm sad. I'm upset you couldn't trust yourselves and our love enough to trust me in loving you no matter what any one says or what you lot have to do to survive. If you lot want to be girlfriends, or pillow friends, or this Circle business, I'll forever love you. I'll even stay loving you if you all decide to break up with me to be together."

Par's heart was hammering in her chest so hard it hurt as she blurts out herself this time to correct that on the double quick, "We don't ever wish that. To be apart from you will kill us. We want you as our boyfriend even if you hate us for our-," she was struggling with naming what she was raised to fear along with how he may think of them and what made them, them but could never name. "Our differences from normal witches."

"Par, relax will you please. I really am far from being mad or crazy about anything. All I want is you lots happiness and safety. If your happy, I'm more so for it.." Their man gave them a lopsided grin while explaining his sentiments on things, "Ange, Ali and just about everyone else we know have been acting as if I'll turn into a psychotic nutjobber if I didn't keep my heart open to some ruddy great secret about you lot, but I could never hate or leave you for finding love for one another. How big a hypocritical rotter would I be to blow up about sharing all of you, when all of you share me? Personally I'm glad at this turn of the Wheel. You all will have one another if some mischance takes me. I can trust you lot to care for each other better than probably even I can."

"Harry are you just saying all this to not offend us? We don't want you hurt either. And any witch trained in the Tower worth a knut knows Gaidin keep their true feelings buried twenty miles below the peak of Dragonmount. Now Harry will you please agree to tell us if this hurts you." Daphne pressed to get Harjit to not keep it bottled in like he was wont to do, like the Warders whom turned him into this seemingly cold distant shadow of the boy he once was.

"Daphne, I am not burying anything here. I'm not anywhere near hurt outside the trust issues." he shrugs with a honesty that brought back memories of the boy that took Parvati to the Yule Ball.

"You do realize that people will snicker behind your back for our seeming sins to the norm for witches. To them you'll be a cover wizard for our sakes alone." Daphne presented to him what Par felt ashamed to not have considered this particular wrinkle. "People will attack you to get at us by proxy, as the Circle can't be touched by them."

Shaking with a grim mirth, Harry starts laughing, "My Dear, as long as I have your loves, they can go hang. Blood and ashes if I wont go hang the mental lot myself for thinking nasty thoughts about you lot. You are my angels, my Aes Sedai and I am a very attentive Warder concerning you five. I'm the luckiest git alive by getting to share your lives with mine. As for this Circle bit, well it took me by surprise to learn you lot are in love in your own ways. Took me a second or two to think enough to speak by the discovery coming out of the blue on me. Shocking as all get out to come on you lot back here locked in your serious discussions over trying to establish what all of you feel about this- whatever this is."

He yawns widely so they sit him down to let him get some much needed rest. With him leaning into her and Luna, he trembles in exhaustion. It was impossible for him to stay at a constant run like he's been since the escape from Tar Valon. Letting him use them as pillows Par and Luna held him close. The others took seats next to them lovingly touching him as he smiled on them.

"You lot are a wonderful sight for me. I love how each of you are so different but not in the same breath. Brilliant feeling to know you lot love me. How you put up with me is a miracle. What I seen and heard of your little discussions, well it was a far sight better than those Sisters whom saw me more akin to a sick budgie than a real live human being." His eyes lowering from exhaustion and interest with a renewed blush gave rise to her own. When he continues she feels a bit warm all over, "Bloody mental those three. More than them being nutters is any wankers saying I'm cracked for choosing you all one and all. Light you five are the most gorgeous women I have ever seen. And seeing you lot deep in discussing this Circle business was brilliant for me to witness."

"I felt the same. Only thing that is equal to it is you with us, me in particular." Luna admits with a laugh and snuggling into him, so very reminiscent of the girls former way of life, highlighting that her lover's true self was not thoroughly killed out of their Ravenclaw. Nor did it appear that the girl could no longer surprise them by her brazenly leaning into Harry for a kiss while guiding his hand to holding her in ways that the Sisters of the Tower would be having kittens for.

The simple sweet kiss turned into the snog of all snoggings shortly after that. Crazily Luna was almost begging their wizard to go further by untying the blouse separating his hands from the treasures laying hidden beneath, he was no saint by willingly taking the hint to Luna's moan of pure joyful lust. Par saw with a bit of joy and a whole lot of other more private delight in enjoying witnessing their passionate love.

Yes, Parvati was in wholehearted agreement with her dearly loved Circlemate and their beau both. Being able to witness and partake of the love that unites them when it is so amply displayed is an extraordinary vision to behold. Sniffling in joy, she thanked the Light this went better despite some rocky shoals threatening to sink them. Even with the roughness it was loads better than what her bone deep dread had expected this to become. However they still had need to be establishing borders and expectations to how, when, where, and if they went into farther territory than they have. Did they do as Tracey and Blaise hinted at treading into dangerous waters like the pair were thinking for themselves, where they in the Circle would start taking Harjit into their beds? Or whatever else people would wish to decide for their own union outside of the influences of their friends and those sets own personal decisions. All of this needed hashing out before any more misunderstandings like this take place.

Unfortunately Harry was so drained he crashed hard and fell into a strained sleep where he wept occasionally as were his norm by what the Circle knew of his average sleep. Though it was muted some with him allowing them all to touch and be near him.

It may have been called a perfect time till Daphne began to shiver and shake a bit. Giving them all a touch of fear following what their Slytherin's shivers could portend.

"Should we wake him?" Ginny asks softly.

"No not yet." Daphne decides with a shake of the head going violently counter to a shiver that was going the other direction. "He needs a break, so do we for that matter and this is probably just a new series of storms for our friendly Wheel's reminder that this is the sea for them."

"If you think it best, we'll go with that. He does look awful." Ione voted with a pensive twist to those lovely expressive lips that Par had been entangled with so very recently.

"Loves, we do need to figure out where to draw our lines of how far we wish to go again. Not only with each other, but with him as well. I know Gin-Gin, Ione, and myself have refrained from going all the way so far but we do go pretty far. Luna, we don't want to go father than you can stand, and for that matter we have no idea where you wish to go, Daph." Par put out there for consideration with her girlfriends.

Shivering some, Daphne looks concerned, possibly frightened to a degree.

Gin saw this too, and took to rubbing circles in their Slytherin's back to comfort the girl.

Hermione offers delicately, "Par and myself are still virgins. By raising and choice for Par, but for me its only that Harry and Luna are not ready to go that far. Whereas Ginny has been with men, but has a wish to not let others dictate when she does such for love instead of when others wish to push her into it for their own profit. So don't be afraid to have never done it, we're in the same boat in all our own ways."

Daphne looked at them then shook off either a shiver or a strange thought, "Wow. Well how do I respond to that? Let me see. Yes I believe the first thing I want absolutely clear is that I am a virgin too. Not that others have not attempted to get in my knix before now. As for waiting, well that shall be my second bit of settling right here and now. I want to wait only so long as to when you all and Harry are ready for it. If you lot were ready right now, I am too. As far as that goes I was ready the moment Gin-Gin and I kissed earlier. Still am for that matter." Daphne grew serious rather quickly after that all though. "I'm not going to lie. I'm scared and nervous but I am willing to wait as I love all of our little union. I want it to be special for all of us, not just a thing we do because we can. Does that make sense."

"It does luv, as that is why we chose to wait ourselves." Par agreed with a rueful smile for her beautiful girlfriend.

"Well with that sorted, now I think I must ask. Gin what have you not shared with me?" Daphne interrogated their red headed fire bug. "You've said you were used by that Diary. Whored out as you put it, but you didn't say how. You and I know that in Pureblood terms that can be rather vague and general. Was it like some girls I know that are lent out for torture. Or was it like Tracey's fate in my House back at bonny ol'Hogwarts?"

"First I've told you but didn't go into the details. Only Tracey knows it all, sans the obliviations because memory charms frighten her dreadfully as you know Daph, she knows the rest on account that she saw the signs of it in me back before we left Coltran's Downs. Well me and her are proud sisters in the Pure By Choice Survivors Club. I told you I was used by Tom with the Diary. What I chose to not dwell on for fear of making you pity me instead of respecting me, was that not only did Tom whore me out to anyone with something he needed. He seemed to preffer it that I was used in and broken in every way a person can be, especially if it is violent and painful. Men, women, and I don't even wish to know what else rapped, beat, fed on, and toyed with me for most of my first year. So yes it was like Tracey's ordeals back home. In point of fact Tracey saw my scars that match her own from a few common acquaintances so she helped me get through the memories that had been glossed over by simple Obliviation." Ginny tried to not let the still simmering hatred and shame add vinegar to what was said of that villainous time.

"Was Lockhart one?" Daphne continued to surprise them. "To use and obliviate you?"

Ginny shook her head with a shrug. "I was too broke in for him by the time he came across me. That and I didn't trust his leering smile the one time he asked if I'd like to help him with a few things in his office. How do you know of him?"

Par and Hermione were feeling distinctly sick at hearing of this sort of thing so casually and clinically spoken of.

"He tried with me too. I ran after I realized I couldn't say no to him and was stripping down for him as sexily as a twelve year old can get with a strange man." Daphne replied with some embarrassment, "I hate Snape but he does defend his Snakes against outsiders. It was the Grease Ball whom saved me when he caught me running through the halls crying in only my knickers. Sadly Dumbledore and the school board did nothing as it was the Great and Widely Read Lockhart's words verses mine as said silly twelve year old."

"What of the Peacock Ponce?" Harry roused some during this, it was as if even in sleep he was hyper protective of them.

"Nothing you or us can deal with now Dear." Daphne assured their man.

Hearing that acted as a sleeping draft for the worn out wizard, sending him back into his unrestful slumbers. That was a sight that apparently inspired Luna to curl up with Harry an join him in La-La-Land, cute murmurs of peace included.

"Maybe we should speak more on this later. We've all been a bit stressed out of late. We've been given our marching orders from the others to not come out till we've settled it all. Why don't we rest together here." Parvati decided to go with Luna's idea of returning to their mutually adored sleeping arraignments from before meeting anyone on this mirror Earth.

It was a universally approved adventure as her Circle joined her and Luna as if this were the most natural of choices for teen girls to make. Too bad it did not last as Par was rudely jerked awake by a violently trembling Daphne and the ominous sounds of bells calling all hands on deck. Harry was already awake and shaking the others with the same dread she felt in his eyes.