Intro

This one wasn't actually from a prompt even though the title claims it is. I foolishly named each chapter prompt # and ... okay so like usual, this idea came to me while I was getting dressed. It's actually a continuation from the last prompt... sort of. As in it's still that same Harry and still in La Push. Don't know why it won't leave me alone so I figured... yeah... let's write this. Then while I was writing, one of Elipsa's prompt words popped up. So... that happened..

- Day 22 -

"You're trespassing again," Harry stated. He stood near the edge of his property clearing. His actual property line was a half mile into the woods around the back of the house, but he didn't need to go into the woods to speak with the wolf hiding in his bushes. "I don't mind if you lot run around in the woods, but you're getting a bit too bloody close to the house."

Harry had 'met' the pack last month already, and he didn't want any trouble with the overly large wolves with intelligent eyes. While he was a powerful wizard, he'd never had to face down a pack of wolves... a werewolf pack certainly, but he wasn't alone when he'd done that. And now he stood out in his backyard talking to what could just be very smart beasts. Although, Harry didn't think so. Their reactions were too human like.

There was a gasp of shock and pain that came from the bush and Harry started. His wards hadn't warned him of a person on his property. His instincts were screaming at him and his wand slipped silently into his hand.

"Reveal yourself," Harry said in his most authoritative tone.

"I... I c-can't..." It was a female voice that cracked and broke down into sobs. Harry didn't lower his guard... even if his heart was breaking for the woman. The pain in the emotional outburst was heart wrenching.

"Come on out," Harry prompted, a bit more softly. "I can't help you while you're in there."

"I... b-but, I..." Her sobs weren't abating, but Harry was no longer overly sympathetic.

"Now you're just being stubborn," Harry stated.

"Am n-n-not," She said stubbornly and Harry smirked in amusement.

"You're bickering with me," Harry reasoned, "I'd say that's being stubborn."

There was movement in the bush, the branches shifted, leaves rattled and slowly a head emerged. The woman swiped at her face, but she wouldn't look at him. She was young, barely in her twenties with copper skin and dark straight hair that was in disarray, nearly as impossibly mussed as his own. Harry watched her intently. She may sound distraught, but it could always be a trap... damned Mad Eye. Harry sighed internally, he'd been in La Push for nearly a month now. Everyone's kept their distance except for the short visit with a few of the reservation Elders and that pack of wolves. He thought he'd be safe during this holiday, but he could never escape that crazy auror sounding off in his head.

While Harry was internally monologuing and debating on how to handle things, the young woman began looking around assessing her situation and she appeared to be growing frustrated... but at what? Harry took a step closer and she turned to look at him so fast it hurt his neck. Harry winced at the movement, he could practically hear the snap, and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Please... don't come closer," She sounded panicked as her cheeks went red.

That stopped him in his tracks. Her eyes were a deep brown, but they never met his. Harry was confused, "You need to come out now. You're on my property. How can I help you get to... wherever it is you need to go?"

She shook her head vigorously, "I don't know."

"Do you have a name?"

She huffed, "Of course, I do." She still wouldn't meet his eyes as she flushed in embarrassment again. Finally she relented and stated, "Leah... I'm Leah."

"Hullo, Leah. I'm Harry Potter." Leah flinched at his name and Harry frowned as his grip tightened on his wand, "You know my name?"

Leah shook her head, "My dad..." There were fresh tears brimming in her eyes, "My dad was Harry Clearwater."

"Was?" Harry sighed, "I'm sorry. I just met the man last month. He seemed a good sort."

"It's my fault," Leah said in a soft choked voice. "He had a heart attack when I... and I ran. I was so ashamed, horrified and confused. The shock... his heart..." Leah closed her eyes and dropped her face into her hands.

Harry crouched so he was more at eye level with the woman, "What can I say to convince you that sitting in that bush in early spring isn't the healthiest of ideas? It's pretty cold out here."

Leah snorted as she swiped at her tears again. Her response was sharp as she snapped, "I know it's cold. I'm not stupid."

"Perhaps not, but you're still sitting out in a bush... in March. I don't know about you, but hot chocolate is sounding rather good right now. Join me?"

"I can't." Leah winced as she moved and tossed a stick that apparently poked her when she adjusted her position.

"Well, we seem to be in a bit of a conundrum then because I can't simply leave you out in the cold." Harry shrugged, "I have this... saving people thing. That's what my best friend calls it anyhow. So, I can't just abandon you, you see."

Leah huffed in resigned amusement and looked at him finally. She had tear tracks on her cheeks, but she was still quite lovely. "You don't understand. I really can't leave the bushes with you staring at me."

"And why is that?" Harry asked intrigued.

The bushes moved then as Leah adjusted her position and raised just enough to expose her bare shoulders. She shrugged said shoulders and said, "Unless I can borrow some clothes... I'm not moving."

"Ah," Harry said and it was his turn to blush. "Right then," He cleared his throat and told her, "I'll... erm... be right..." Harry left back into the house and out of sight where he summoned some clothes that he put warming charms on and then a pair of trainers. He hurried back outside and set the clothes near the bush and backed away, politely not looking in her direction, but he didn't leave her alone.

Leah hesitated to stand. Harry wasn't looking now... but what's to say he wouldn't turn around while she was standing in her birthday suit? Brushing her hands together, Leah did her best to dislodge the dirt, dead leaves and twigs. Then she swiftly slipped the t-shirt on and sighed in relief. The shirt was fresh-from-the-dryer warm and surprisingly soft and comfortable. She looked up at Harry again to make sure he wasn't looking and stood slowly all the while brushing her skin free from as much dirt, leaves and twigs as she could manage. She didn't have any underwear, not that she'd want to wear Harry's, but... Resigning herself to going commando, Leah slipped on the sweats and was surprised when they fit her. Leah stood and noted they were roughly the same height and while Harry wasn't a large, muscular guy like Sam, he wasn't scrawny either.

She held Harry's shoes in her hand and fidgetted, "Um... thanks..."

Harry gave a shrug, "Sure. Care for that hot chocolate?"

"Actually," Leah looked out at the woods and then back to Harry and shrugged to his back, "Yeah... sure."

"Come on then," Harry said and walked towards the house. Leah followed, still holding Harry's shoes. The guy forgot to give her socks and she wasn't keen on wearing tennis shoes without a pair, but she wasn't comfortable asking for more than he'd already offered.

"How long has this house been here?" Leah asked, looking up at the large home. She had lived her entire life in La Push and didn't remember seeing it before today. It wasn't as if she hadn't been in this area before... hadn't she?

"Years... not sure how many," Harry admitted, "I inherited it from my godfather."

He opened the backdoor and ushered her into the kitchen. He hadn't had many guests here, and still felt awkward 'entertaining' people in the dreary house. Harry went about grabbing things to make their hot chocolate, then paused as he realized he'd have to use magic to turn on the burner. The thought of claiming he was suddenly out of cocoa was on the tip of his tongue when he remembered. Standing at the stove with the milk in hand he asked, "You say your parents are Harry and Sue Clearwater?"

Leah had been distractedly playing with the shoelace of the right shoe when he asked. She looked at him with a frown, "Yes?"

"So... you know..."

She stiffened and blinked at him, hesitatingly saying, "Yes..." but it sounded more like another question than a response.

Harry grinned, "Brilliant." He leaned against the counter, still with milk in hand, and asked, "How long then?"

"Beginning of the month..." Leah still didn't sound entirely sure of herself, but she answered anyhow.

He nodded, "Good."

Harry and Sue knew about magic as did Billy Black and Quil Ateara. They knew about the wards and the Black house's existence which was why their appearance surprised Harry. None but the magically gifted could or should have been able to see the house, so when the four Elders came to greet him, they told him about the Spirit Warriors, and the latent magic in the tribe. So it made sense to Harry, that since Leah was not only related to Harry and Sue, and could see the house, she must have latent magic in her.

With that concern behind him, Harry released his wand back into his hand and turned on the burner. He flicked his wand and summoned a pot, poured in the milk then set it to warm. He went to a cupboard and pulled out two mugs, a plate and searched for some biscuits.

"How..."

Harry turned to Leah with a questioning gaze. Leah was standing in his t-shirt and sweats, shoes forgotten on the floor at her bare feet. Her eyes were wide, one hand was pointing, the other was searching behind her as if looking for the chair that just toppled over and clattered to the floor behind her.

"Careful!" Harry said as Leah stumbled over the shoes, and the chair landing on her backside with a thump. He was crouching by her side and trying to help her up, "You said that you knew..."

"Werewolves... yes, but we can't..." Leah gestured at the stove again and stared up at Harry.

"Not werewolves, shapeshifters... Spirit Warriors..." Harry corrected, "I'm neither. I'm a wizard. I thought you knew..."

"I'm a... shapeshifter?" Leah sat up and huffed, "That..."

"Spirit Warrior," Harry said gently, "Much more majestic sounding. A werewolf can't change at will, they're forced to change once a month and it's quite painful from what I've seen."

"So, you're a wizard," Leah met his gaze and their eyes met. Leah noted how absolutely green his eyes were and fell... deep into them, "Oh..."

It only lasted a few moments, felt like a lifetime and Harry blinked, "Well now, that was something."

"I..." Leah groaned, "You're a kid..." Leah dropped her head in her hands and sighed heavily. "I can't ever be normal, can I? I can't even imprint right."

Harry chuckled and sat beside her, completely forgetting about the hot chocolate for now. "Yes, well. I'm far from normal myself. I'll be twenty-six in July, I'm not a child... even if I may look like one... but that's not the difficult part."

Leah looked at him and asked, "Then what is?"

"I'm married," Harry admitted.

Day 22 - Prompt: Shoes

Word Count: 14,425