The weather was pleasant, if a bit warm, that always made learning so much easier in the mornings. When Hausis had come to get Harry for a lesson, he thought nothing of it other than getting to spend time with his friends. Today's lesson was out in the forest, as most of them were, but Harry was alone with Hausis today.
"There is one final lesson I must teach you before destiny turns once more," Hausis had said as she led Harry out into the forest at his questioning glace around for the other children.
Harry was used to Hausis and her cryptic words, but this was different. It was less cryptic and more foreboding. There wasn't much to be done about it right now. One would have better luck asking the forest to move into the ocean than to get any information out of Hausis before she was ready to give it.
Hausis led them to a small stream not too far from the village and sat down on a cut log near the edge of the water.
"Now, Taini. Step into the water," Hausis commanded in her grandmotherly sweet tone.
Harry slipped off his soft-soled makasin shoes and walked into the water enough for the water to be just under his shorts. The water was very cold, but it felt good with the late July morning bearing down on him.
"You feel the water? How it moves?" She asked in her usual philosophical way.
"Yes," Harry responded as he closed his eyes and touched the flowing water with his fingertips.
"You see how the water moves around you? How it can be manipulated and directed without changing itself?" She continued
"Yes, I do," He was trying to figure out what Hausis was getting at, but was coming up short. He could feel what she meant but wasn't sure what the lesson was.
"Magic is no different than the water you're feeling. Only it is everywhere and is everything," she concluded. Harry wiggled his legs and toes against the water current, trying to feel something more than cold water. Hausis raised her hand and an orb of water came up with it before him. The orb shifted and Harry could see three smaller balls of water orbiting each other inside. The orbs fell back into the water with a splash that hit his pants.
"I already know how to manipulate raw magic," Harry had begun to say before Hausis spoke up again.
"Your teachers have spoken highly of your ability. You are ahead of all but your oldest peers. But that is only pushing or pulling the magic. I want you to grab onto it and surround yourself with it," Hausis smiled at her little one before she made a vague motion with her hand. "I think Rey-Mos called it a 'Shield.'"
A shield. He had heard his fathers talking about using the skill in vague terms during their youth. It was something called a charm that was supposed to protect the caster from most forms of magic. Hausis had described the spell as adequate, but admitted that there were much better ways of blocking magical attacks. Her suggestion of ducking was met with a bitter glare from Dadfoot.
Harry tried grabbing the water by using his magic, but it was difficult. Mooey had always praised Harry's abilities at the magic he called 'wandless", yet Harry couldn't help but desire more. Something within him drove him for better control. For stronger manipulation. It took the better part of an hour until Harry finally managed to grab onto the water and move it to surround him using only the magic around him. He laughed joyfully as he let the magic go and the water fell back onto his face and shoulders.
"Very good Taini!" Hausis announced proudly as she clapped softly. She spoke as she rose to her feet and waved him back to her side, "As always, you have excelled with little effort."
Hausis waited for him to put his makasins back on before heading back towards his house. Normally Harry would just charge though the village after his lessons but today Hausis was leading him. History had taught him that Hausis only led you when she had a good reason. Best wait and see what she had in store for him. They walked to his house and entered it together, which was quite unusual since Hausis rarely entered anyone's home but her own. Mooey was the first to greet them since he was sitting at the table reading a book when they entered.
"Harry!" He announced happily. "Hausis," He greeted far more subdued but with respect due to the elder.
"Adsila and Talise will be here soon," She spoke serenely before leaving the house with a melancholy smile.
Remus made a funny face in Hausis' direction then gently his eyebrows raised in understanding. He turned back to Harry to question him about his morning lesson with the old seer, "What did you learn today?"
"I learned how to create a shield!" Harry exclaimed happily gearing up to explain all of the ways he worked the magic before he was able to form the water around his body.
Remus chuckled lowly before the little boy could bury him under theory, or what theory a seven year old could explain, "I'm going to assume it's not the Protego Charm, so how about you try to explain what you did," he spoke with a bit of mirth in his voice as he motioned to the seat next to him.
Harry sat himself down in the chair and proceeded to try to explain the shield magic he learned today. He had learned young that his fathers had a vastly different education, which made it difficult to explain his own. They had settled on using more abstract terms for how he used magic.
"I moved water!" Harry explained excitedly. "I was in a bubble!"
Remus nodded. "So, you figure out how to create a bubble around you? Was it a spell?"
"Spell?" Harry frowned as he recalled his success this morning, "No. It was made of magic."
"Are you talking about the 'flow of magic' that Hausis always talks about?" Remus even supplied the quotes with his hands.
"Magic is everywhere," Harry made a wide motion and then scowled at his father. The learning was different that didn't mean Hausis and his mothers were wrong because they did things different. "I used that magic to make a bubble!" Harry crossed his arms over his chest as he continued.
Remus was quiet for a moment. "So," He started slowly, possible still trying to think through it. "You took the latent magic from the environment and moved it to protect you?"
"Yes!" Harry replied immediately. His arms uncrossed and his scowl lifted. Mooey always tried to understand the different magic. That's what had made him overcome his curse after all, new thinking.
Remus rubbed his eyes wearily. "First wandless magic. Now manipulation of raw magic," Remus sighed heavily. "All this incredibility advanced magical techniques and you're only 7 bloody years old." Remus stopped rubbing his eyes and smiled down at Harry. "That's great Harry. Truly amazing. Keep this up and you'll be the most advanced wizard in British history, at least", Remus affectionately ruffled up his always messy hair.
Harry preened at the pride in his father's words. His fathers were always proud of his progress in magic and were never quiet about it, but Harry liked hearing it all the same.
"Is Harry home?" Sirius called from the kitchen around the corner.
"Yes!" Harry called out as he turned to the voice and searched for his other father.
"Perfect timing!" Sirius walked out from around the corner holding a lopsided three tiered cake that was decorated white with strange symbols drawn onto the sides and presented it to Harry with a large smile. It was a strange custom that no one else in the tribe performed, but Harry had long ago learned that his dads had many unusual customs and it was easier to simply go along with it.
"It looks so good!" Harry announced, making his dad even happier.
"Been taking baking lessons from your mothers, Adsila and Talise. Mostly we make bread but the skills are transferable. I'd like to think it's working," He motioned to the cake. "I decorated it with Quidditch designs!"
"Kwid-itch?" Harry asked in a soft voice sounding out the unfamiliar word.
"It's a sport from where we're from. Don't worry about it," Remus waved off Harry's question.
Sirius looked at Remus in betrayal before shaking off the comment and cut several pieces off the cake so they each got one. The cake was far too sweet to Harry's tastes, Harry loved the honey and jams that his mother's made to the sweet cake that his father had made, but he chose to keep his opinion to himself. Sirius was happy and had worked hard Harry knew. Sirius brought him a cup in which he conjured warm water into in an effort to cut the sweetness. His fathers conjured hot water in the tea leaves which Harry was never able to develop a taste for.
Harry was nearly finished with his piece when there was a knock at the front door. He jumped up out of his chair before either of his dads could react and opened the door to reveal his mothers. He latched onto one of each of their legs as a hug, making them both giggle.
"Mothers!" Harry greeted loudly.
"Hello Taini," Talise greeted serenely like Hausis always did.
"Taini! How is our favorite boy?" Adsila returned Harry's mood. She was always far less like Hausis which was why his fathers tended to prefer her company to her sister. The two women walked into the house while Harry dutifully closed the door behind them.
"Hello ladies. Here for Harry's birthday? I made cake," Sirius offered hopefully.
"No thank you, See-rus," Talise responded. "Hausis doesn't want us to stay for too long."
Hausis didn't want them to stay for too long? According to his fathers, this day was a special day for him. Hausis had been giving him long lectures about how his destiny involved many events in far away lands. While he pretended that meant he would travel far once he was grown, deep down he knew otherwise.
"We brought you a gift," Talise spoke as she reached behind her while Adsila walked towards his fathers.
His more stoic mother pulled out a deep red colored bag from her own earth colored bag and handed it to Harry to inspect. The shape of the bag resembled the general shape of a flower that had yet to blossom. The beaded draw string along the top that held the petal sides closed doubled as strap to go across the body. The sides were covered in beaded and stitched designs that included birds, vines, geometric designs, single white flower on one side, and single red flower of a different kind on the opposite side. The stem of the flower was a beaded string that looped around the small bottom of the bag to hang down as what seemed like a purely decorative touch. Harry realized that when the bag was opened, the petal sides unfurled and the bag was able to be laid out flat. What he saw inside left him confused.
Talise noticed Harry's gaze. "We used our magic to weave enchantments into this but we wove the fibers and beaded the outside by hand. This bag is all your own and we hope that it will always remind you of us," Talise kissed the top of his head softly.
There were tears stinging his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He had to be strong for his mothers, his fathers, and his tribe. If it was his destiny to leave his people, then he would. Hausis knew best for the tribe's sons and daughters and he would do as he was told.
Adsila's voice brought him out from his mind. She had Sirius against the wall with his hands in the air in surrender with one hand on her hip and her index finger pressed against his chest, repeatedly. Remus was still sitting at the table, watching Adsila threaten Sirius with the ghost of a smirk on his lips. Talise pulled Harry to his feet and guided him out of the house silently. Hausis was sitting silently on the bench in front of the house.
"Tiani," Hausis announced once the front door closed. "I have taken the time to collect all our knowledge on our mixtures, your fathers call them 'Potions', and nature magic into the books already in your house. I've spent years collecting the seeds of every plant I could find. Now listen to me very carefully," Hausis commanded Harry's attention. "You must never stop learning and expanding your magic. Do whatever you must to do so. Understand?"
"Yes," Harry mustered all his courage into that one word. He knew what was coming next and his small frame quivered at the implications. His eyes burned and his hands tightened on the bag in his hands.
"Good," Hausis nodded once. "Now. Go say your goodbye's."
Harry did as he was told, going to each of the tribe's people and giving his friends goodbyes that cut him to his young heart. Several people informed him that he would always be welcomed to come back once he was finished with his business. He had never worried about coming back, but it was nice knowing he had a place in the tribe. Adsila had come out of the house at some point and pulled him to a quiet spot.
"Here," Adsila pulled out a headband with an intricate beaded design and an eagle feather tied to it with a leather strap. "You're a little young to be given your feather, but I don't care. You're one of us," Adsila put the headband on his head before giving him a quick kiss and a tight hug. His normally happy and enthusiastic mother smiled with tears in her eyes and sent him back to his fathers. Her heart broke as she turned and went home as she was instructed.
Remus was forced to insistently pull Harry away from the tribe since he was understandably reluctant to leave. Sirius was waiting for them nearby having already packed up their things into the small motorcycle trailer he had bought some time ago. Remus took a seat in the sidecar and pulled Harry in his lap. Without much else, they set off away from everything Harry had ever known. Only once the tribe was gone from sight did Harry begin to cry in earnest but heartbreaking sobs that shattered the small control Remus and Sirius had remaining for their little one. Remus rubbed his back in soothing circles, yet it did little to help him.
"I know it's hard, pup," Remus spoke over the wind. "You'll find it gets easier." It wasn't hard to see the pained smile or the tears that had escaped down his cheeks as he held Harry in his lap.
"Was it hard to leave your home?" Harry hiccuped as he tried to speak through the tears and sobs. His mother's smiling faces foremost in his mind. He missed them already.
Remus was quiet for long enough that Harry thought he might know the answer. He also didn't miss the glances Sirius was throwing their way between batting at his own cheeks with his left hand. "It was always very hard, pup. You made it bearable," The pain in his werewolf father's smile left briefly as he looked down at Harry. Sirius nodded in agreement unable to speak for fear of losing the last of his own composure.
The three rode in silence for some time before Harry finally got bored of watching trees wiz by. He pulled up the red bag his mothers had gifted him to get a look at what they had put inside with their magic.
"The bag your mothers gave you?" Remus asked.
"Talise said her and Adisla put something inside," Harry explained as he figured out how to open to bag. Once he got it opened, he peered inside, but was confused. He showed the inside to Remus while Sirius snuck curious glances in their direction as much as the road would allow him.
"Ah," Remus said once he looked inside. "An Undetectable Extension Charm paired with a permanently conjured house. Very interesting," He muttered to himself.
"Is that good?" Harry asked while wiping away his tears.
"Very good pup. Also very difficult." Remus turned to Sirius. "Am I the only one here questioning our Hogwarts education?"
Sirius chuckled deeply. "Extension charms and permanent conjuration? Not at all. Those are some damn crafty Indians."
His fathers laughed with one another over another joke Harry didn't understand. Remus opened the bag almost as wide as it would go and presented it to Harry. "Why don't you go in and check it out. We'll be on the road for some yet."
Harry nodded so Remus flipped the bag over his head and used his knee to pop Harry completely into the bag. Harry landed on a wooden floor, flat on his back with a harsh thud. He sat up and saw Remus' face inside a large ring border with strange symbols all around it on the wooden wall in front of him.
"What's this?" Harry asked, forgetting his previous sadness as he looked around in wonder.
"It's the opening to your bag. No doubt looks different in there. We're going to be on the road for some time, so take your time looking around. I'll call for you when we stop for dinner," Remus said before his picture changed into a wooden wall with only the border remaining.
Harry looked around him and saw that he was in a house that looked almost identical to the houses in the tribe. There wasn't much in the house from what he could see. A plain couch with a coffee table in front of it in what he could assume was the living room. A small table with three chairs was sitting outside the kitchen. The kitchen had all the essentials; a sink, a wood stove/oven for cooking, a cupboard with dishware, another cupboard for seasonings for cooking, and several more that were empty.
At the edge of the kitchen was a small nook that held supplies for potion making. It held another smaller stove with a sizable cooking pot sitting on it and many kinds of mixing tools. The shelves in the nook already held numerous dried herbs in jars and more hanging from the ceiling, still drying. There was a curiously small cupboard next to the nook that held quite a few already prepared potions, the labels written by Hausis.
Connected to the living room was a library lit by half a dozen enchanted flames in old canning jars. There were empty shelves for books that covered all the walls of the library except for the far corner where the shelves made room for a large writing desk. There were already a few books on one of the lower shelves by the desk. Hausis did say she had already put books from the tribe in his house. Harry pulled one of the unlabeled books and leafed through it, finding potion recipes of various difficulties.
Putting the book back with the others, Harry wandered through the other rooms of the house. There was a bedroom with a very large bed and two small tables, both having another enchanted flame for light. The bedroom had a closet already had Harry's clothes, as well new clothes in bigger sizes and different styles.
The second to last door in was a mostly empty room with large shelves on the walls and several freestanding cupboards. One of the cupboards had the bleached skull of a crow and a small note in Adsila's handwriting.
Write us often on your journey, Taini. Call for the soul of the crow whose skull you now have and give your letter to it. The crow will find us, no matter how far apart we are
The note made Harry smile as his tears came back. His mother still wanted to hear from him. Already he wanted to write his mothers, but they only just left. He decided to wait until something noteworthy happened before sending a letter. No use telling them about looking around the house they made him.
Outside the last door was an area that could be considered 'outside' but wasn't. Just outside the door to the house was a field of overturned dirt that was perfect for farming. An artificial light above him that looked and felt exactly like the sun.
Harry had seen most of everything there was to see, though knowing his mothers there were still plenty of things hidden in the nooks and crannies of the house. Today had been draining and he just didn't have the desire to go searching. Instead, he went back to the library and began reading through the potion books Hausis had written for him.
"Harry!" Remus' voice echoing through the house roused Harry from his books. He'd been reading all yesterday and most of today. Harry put his books back on the shelves before sprinting back to the portal. The portal was open, showing only a cloudless deep blue sky. "Feet first, pup," his father ordered
Harry sat down on the floor and pushed his feet out. He felt his feet touch something solid before being pulled through with a quick movement. He found himself standing next to the motorcycle trailer with his father.
"We stopped already?" Harry asked.
Remus chuckled fondly. "Harry. We've been on the road for nearly 14 hours. It's nearly dark." Harry looked around, finding the sun already low in the sky. "Aren't you hungry?"
Harry's stomach growled loudly, as if on cue. "Yes, Dad."
"Good," Remus smiled sweetly. "We've stopped at a diner for dinner before we figure out what to do for the night. Remember, since we're out on the road Sirius is James, I am Evan and you are Logan. We can't use our real names right now."
Sirius walked around the trailer while stretching out his arms. "Boy am I happy for a break. Ready for food?"
"Hey yer damn glitter tits!" A strange voice with a strange accent called out from across the black lot. There was a man stumbling towards them while waving a bottle about in their general direction. The man was wearing dirty, ratty clothes that probably had never been properly taken care of. Harry could tell from the man's hair that it had been weeks since he last washed it.
"Glitter tits?" Remus asked confusedly as he stepped in front of Harry. He looked sidelong at Sirius before speaking again, "What the hell kind of insult is that?"
"Is it because we're magical?" Sirius was just as confused. "How can he tell, drunk as he is?"
"Get o'er here, freaks!" The strange man stumbled closer to them. "I got sometin' for yah!"
The man reached into his pants pocket and pulled out something Harry didn't recognize. There was a strange feeling coming from the man that Harry couldn't place. His fathers reached into their own pockets, reaching for their wands, but didn't yet pull them out.
"Sir. We can talk this over calmly," Remus called out to him. "There's no need for violence"
The man pointed the object towards them. "You'ses pay for et!"
The object pulsed violently just before shooting out four violet colored arrows of magic in rapid succession towards them. The arrows shot out towards them, but due to the man's unsteady arm, they were sent out in unpredictable paths. The first two arrows hit the trailer between Harry and Remus and left a large burn holes in the side. Remus looked towards Harry and cast a quick shield in front of him to protect him, but didn't see the third arrow coming right at him. Sirius quickly cast the same shield charm that manged to catch the second arrow before it hit Remus. Neither of his fathers had quick enough reflexes to stop the last arrow from striking Sirius. It hit his left shoulder and he immediately fell to the ground clutching it in pain. Remus roared as he leapt forward and grasped the man's wrist wrenching hard and dropping the object from his grip and shattering his wrist. Remus' right hook came fast and snarling he wordlessly banished the foolish drunk flying back into the trunk of a thick tree. He didn't move to get up.
Harry scampered over to Sirius who was laying on the ground grasping his bleeding shoulder. "Daddy! Daddy! Are you alright?" Harry asked frantically.
"Oww, I'm alright pup," Sirius ground out. "I'll be fine. Stings like my mother's Cruciatus, though," He pushed himself up into a sitting position.
Harry quickly reached into his bag and pulled out one of the pre-made potions. "Here. This one will fix it."
Sirius took the potion from Harry and drank it in one go without question. Remus knelt down next to them to examine the wound in Sirius' shoulder. The bleeding had stopped and the wound was already stitching itself closed.
"You're lucky, mate. Not far from your heart," Remus spoke with clear emotion as he measured the distance in his mind.
Sirius was just about to speak when a woman's voice shrieked. "Oh my god! Are you alright?!"
A younger woman wearing a pink waitressing uniform was rushing towards them from the front door of the diner. Harry saw Remus' hand twitched towards his wand as the woman neared.
"I'll live," Sirius gave the woman his usual charming smile.
"Thank god," The woman sighed with a her hand on her chest. She was a rather buxom woman if Sirius' smirk was any indication. "I never thought old Wallace would actually try and hurt someone."
"What was that man's problem?!" Remus snarled angrily, though not directed at the woman.
"He's a bitter, old Wizard-born No-Maj. Hates magical folks with a violent passion," The woman helped Sirius to his feet against his weak protests as he leaned against her more than necessary. "Come inside. Let's get you folks some food inside."
The woman pulled Sirius into the diner as Harry and Remus followed closely behind. She sat Sirius down at a table with a padded bench for a seat instead of standard chairs. She darted off but quickly came back with plastic covered papers.
"Thank you, Love," Sirius spoke to her with a smirk.
"Don't mention it. My name is Camilla, Cami to you, and I'll be taking good care of you. Don't worry about the cost. It'll be on the house," Cami smiled as she scampered through a door at the back of the diner.
"Way to go, pup. That was quick thinking with that potion," Sirius praised Harry. "Where'd you get it from, anyway?"
"My mothers put some in the bag," Harry responded without looking up from the menu. What's a corn dog?
"Well, you'll have to give them my thanks for their forethought," Sirius continued as he winced as the wound continued to stitch itself together.
Cami came back after just a couple minutes to get their drink and food orders. She took it to the kitchen and came back with a pot of hot water for tea. Harry was quick to notice Cami's glances towards Remus.
"You leave your dog outside? You can bring it in. The owner won't mind so long as it's well behaved," She offered while pouring hot water into three cups.
Remus laughed heartily for a few seconds before looking at Sirius and then laughing harder. "I don't have a dog Cami," Remus responded after he had wiped the tears and mirth from his eyes. Sirius' whole body jerked from being kicked by Remus under the table before he could make a comment. "Why do you ask?"
"You're a Werewolf. Figured you had a Moonhound," Cami shrugged as she placed the sugar packets on the table.
"Never heard of Moonhounds," Remus replied a bit dazed at the woman's casualness with his nature.
"And you know we're magical how?" Sirius added after rubbing his shin.
"Both of you look the type and we have lots of magical persons around here. It's a dirty secret the whole town knows. Thought that's why you stopped here," Cami sat on a chair next to Harry and smiled sweetly at him as he thanked her for the water. She continued after she looked back to Remus, " Moonhound is a magical dog breed that Werewolves 'round here have to help them during the moon. My brother told me that it's a Mawbree crossed with a Silken Windhound. Make some damned loyal dogs."
Cami brought their food out not too long later, leaving her chair when the order was up as there were no other patrons in the diner. While they were eating, a police officer came into the diner and Cami smiled and waved him over to their table.
"Evening gentlemen. Got a call about old Wallace causing you some trouble with an illegal magical gun. Did anyone get hurt?" The officer asked with a slow drawl as he took a cup of coffee from Cami and nodded his thanks.
"I got hit in the shoulder. It's all healed up now thanks to my son's quick thinking," Sirius showed the officer the dried blood around hole in his shirt.
"That's good to hear," The officer spoke with an sneer that he whisked into a smile. "I'd hate for good magical folk being hurt by one bitter old squib. Don't worry yourselves now. I'll make sure he learns his lesson," The officer tipped his head before leaving.
"Why does it sound like he's going to be taken out behind the wood shed?" Sirius joked, but was met with a stern glare from Remus.
The three ate their meal and were getting ready to leave when Cami stopped them. "You boys got a place to stay for the night?" Sirius eyes widened and he smiled. America, land of the free, indeed.
"No, we don't. We're honestly just passing through," Remus shrugged.
"I'm getting off now, so how about you come to my house? I got an extra bed for you two and a couch for your boy," Cami offered unaware of the tinkling mirth in Sirius' eyes.
"A bed to sleep in would be nice," Sirius suggested quietly to Remus with a raised eyebrow and smile tugging at his lips. Remus nodded and pushed Sirius out the door.
"One more snarky, flirting attempt, or comment about her offer and I will hex you," Remus hissed into Sirius' ear as he followed Harry to the motorcycle.
The three piled into the motorcycle and followed the woman to her rather nondescript brick house that was hidden from the road by the trees. There was a large brown dog sitting in front of the house when they pulled up the driveway. As soon as Sirius turned the bike off the dog began walking towards them. Harry was unafraid of the large animal so he ran towards it to greet it as he was taught. The dog was so tall that it could look Harry in the eyes while having enough muscle mass to look like it could fight a bear with little issue.
Harry was able to find the dog's name from it's mind. "Hello Emily," he greeted.
Emily the dog bowed her head to Harry to return his greeting.
"Ah! You met Emily! She's a Moonhound, like I was telling you. My brother has her brother, Chesty," Cami explained as she rubbed Emily's head. Remus and Sirius stood in shock at the animal. These were bred for werewolves? What purpose did you need a dog that big for? Hunting? Remus and Sirius shared a glance that summed up much of there feelings, what else was England missing in its limited magical community?
Cami showed the three into the house and where they would be sleeping. Remus mumbling a comment about sharing a bed with Sirius to keep the virtue of their host safe, but it only made Sirius smile. Harry pulled out a blanket from his bag as he prepared for sleep.
"You got a pretty nifty bag there," Cami spoke from the hallway. She was already in her pajamas.
"Yes. My mothers gave it to me before we set off," Harry explained as he tucked the bag under the pillow Cami let him borrow.
"You need school books?" She asked suddenly as she had been gently chewing on her lower lip moments before.
Hausis' words about collecting as many books as he could to study came to mind. "I can always use more books Miss Cami," Harry replied.
"My parents kept all my brother's Ilvermorny books. Upwards of thirty, I think. I'm never going to use them and I have no idea where to take them to get rid of them or who to give them to."
"I'd love to have them, but I have no money ma'am," Harry admitted to his host.
"I didn't say buy," She replied with a grin and a wink. "I'll bring them out in the morning for you. Goodness knows you'll make better use of them than I can."