Chapter 8 – Goodbye Albion

Harry celebrated his twenty sixth birthday by chasing his two children, and all their friends through the forest and then having a picnic lunch. After that he brought them to meet the Serket. He had been coming here once a week since Cathbad had first brought him and he was still fascinated by the creatures.

"Do they have names Dad?" asked a 10-year-old Ella.

"Um no, I didn't think to name them. Why don't you name them Ella?"

"Yay!" She said as she ran off. Ella still had that innocent happiness that he remembered Narcissa having when she was younger, and Harry vowed every day to make it last as long as possible. She was kind spirited and patient. She loved animals, and people. Harry had a feeling that she would follow her mother's path as a healer. Valmoira, on the other hand, had a sharp tongue, and was exceedingly cunning. Even at seven she was a natural born leader. She had turned out to be just as powerful as Milcah had predicted. Last year Harry had started teaching her how to duel to help her learn how to channel her growing magical energy.

An hour later, Harry had to practically drag Ella away from her new best friends. He only got her to leave by promising she could come with him on his weekly visits. He smiled as she talked about their names and personalities the entire walk back to the castle.

After a celebratory dinner, Harry went to his study to continue the research he had been doing for the last couple years, while Narcissa and Milcah tried to wrestle the girls into bed. A couple years ago, Narcissa started sharing with Harry everything she knew about Voldemort and his past/future plans. She told him about his obsession with immortality and all of the rituals he had done since his return. When Narcissa had described some of the rituals, Harry had switched his research focus and started looking into them. He hoped he could figure out how to defeat Voldemort if he understood all he had done to himself. Last year, Harry had stumbled upon something that had terrified him, but made so much sense at the same time. That night his thoughts were consumed by what he had read, and he had no choice but to talk about with Milcah. Even now he remembered their conversation well.

'That is very dark magic Harry, why are thinking about that?'

'Do you know about them?' There was a hint of excitement in his thoughts and Milcah scowled at him in concern.

'Only that the price is not worth the gain.'

'Because you have to kill someone?'

'Yes, and the insanity caused by splitting you soul.'

'I think Voldemort made one. The diary in my second year''

'But that's not all you think.'

'I think I'm one as well. I believe there is a fragment of his soul in my scar.'

'Do you think it is the cause of the dark hue in your magic.'

'Probably'

And..' Harry laughed.

'If he made one, I find it difficult to believe he wouldn't make others. He would want to have as many ways of ensuring his immortality as possible.'

'Good, you finally got it all out there.' Harry could practically feel her smirk against his chest. 'Is there a way to find out how many he has made and what sort of containers they might be in?'

'I can only think of two people that would know. Voldemort and Albus Dumbledore and I don't think either of them would tell me willingly.

''So there is nothing you can do for now, you have to wait until you return to get the information you need.'

'Yes, but I can work on how to get the information out of them. Do the Druid have any way of removing a Horcrux from a living being, that's maybe not mentioned in the books?'

'It is possible to move a Horcrux from one living vessel to another.'

'Oh?'

'But the vessel must be equal in magical power, or the Horcrux will just return to its original host.'

'Oh, well that's out then.'

'Hmm, well, I think it's time I give you something else to think about' Which Milcah illustrated by kissing down his stomach and taking him into her mouth.

A few days later, he had a similar conversation with Narcissa, and she agreed to help him learn legilimency and figure out how to use what they have learned about mind magic from the Druid to improve it. Harry wanted it to be impossible for them to resist him when the time came.

Tonight, the last piece of the puzzle finally fell into place. There had been something nagging at him since his conversation with Milcah, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It always seemed just out of reach, but a couple weeks ago it became clear. 'Move it from vessel to another, He figured out how to defeat him, though he wasn't fond of the solution he had come with. A couple hours later, he laid in bed sated, with a naked Milcah tucked into his side when his mind began to wander to his research.

'You are thinking about Horcruxes again.'

'Yes'

'Well you have clearly figured something out so you might as well tell me.'

'There are three ways to destroy a Horcrux, the killing curse, basilisk venom, and fiendfyre, but there is just one problem…'

'You can't use any of those on yourself.'

'Correct'

'So you plan to...no Harry, you can't. It's too dangerous.'

'Without letting him kill me it is the only way. You said yourself you can move a Horcrux from one vessel to another as long as the person is powerful enough, it will work.'

'I can't believe that is the only way, surely there is something else.'

'Dobby and I have spent two years reading about every ritual mentioned in every book in that library. There is nothing else. At least nothing else that has ever been recorded.' Milcah was silent.

'I will need your help. You have more experience with primal magic than I do, you will be able to help me figure out how to alter the spell the way I need to.'

'No I can't, please don't ask that of me.'

'Please just think about it. We can talk more about it later Milcah, for now let's sleep.' Milcah agreed, but as he she listened to Harry drift off to sleep she could not follow and when eventually he was lost to the world she snuck out of bed.

When Harry was eating breakfast the next morning he was ambushed by both Narcissa and Milcah, who had obviously been up talking about him for most of the night.

"You plan on absorbing all of his soul pieces and then using Merlin's spell to send Voldemort's soul into the afterlife once all of the pieces are together again," said Narcissa matter-of-factly as she entered the kitchen.

"Yes, and good morning to you Narcissa," said Harry as he placed down his tea, preparing for the confrontation he knew was to come.

"I cannot allow this Harry. I forbid it," said Narcissa firmly.

"You forbid it?" Said Harry in an eerily calm whisper. "I am not a child anymore Narcissa and I am certainly not your child." Despite his best efforts to control it, Harry's magic flared and swirled around the room causing his teacup to shatter into hundreds of pieces, and both women to gasp and back up to the wall for support.

"Harry - I," but before she could finish Harry was in front of her, his eyes filled with an angry fire. She had seen that look before, but it had rarely been issued at her, and she suddenly remembered why she avoided it.

"Perhaps I have given you too much freedom Narcissa if you think it is your place to forbid me from anything. You think there is a better way? Then find it," he growled. Then he moved away from her and turned to Milcah.

"I will do it with or without your help, but with your help would be easier." Then he left the room, leaving them both shaking and trying to regain their composure.

For the next two weeks, neither Narcissa nor Milcah talked much to Harry. He saw them often in the library together, but other than the obligatory conversations during meals they kept to themselves. He grew more and more frustrated every time he walked by Narcissa's room to hear them giggling. Neither bothered to ask him about his research or how he knew it would work. They were both stubbornly refusing to back down and help him, and so was Harry, but they were also ignoring him and spending all their time together, and that infuriated him more. It felt completely unfair.

Just as Harry's temper was at a breaking point, they came to find him in his study. At first, he ignored them and continued his work, until Narcissa came and maneuvered herself into his lap to get his attention. She kissed the side of his mouth and along his jaw, until Harry growled and pushed her off of his lap as he stood up and walked to the other side of the room.

"Don't do that! You spend two weeks ignoring me and then you come in here acting like you haven't been upstairs fucking Milcah every chance you get instead of dealing with this," he yelled. He stood there panting, trying to reign in the magic he had once again lost control of.

"It's not like that Harry we haven't been - fucking," Narcissa said with a wince, uncomfortable with using the vulgar term. "We've been researching other options like you asked. Please, can we discuss this." Harry took some calming breaths and then took a seat on the sofa.

"Fine," he said. "Let's discuss it." Both women came and sat down on either side of him, each taking a hand. He tensed slightly but he didn't pull away which they took as encouragement to continue.

"You are right, we haven't been able find another way," started Narcissa. Harry could tell she wasn't happy about that fact. "But we're scared harry. There is so much that could go wrong. It seems like too big of a risk."

"Nothing will go wrong," said Harry firmly.

"How can you know that?" said Narcissa, in a clearly exasperated tone.

"What do you think I have been doing with my time for the last eleven years Narcissa, lounging on the beach. I have done my best to ensure nothing will go wrong. If I have all of the pieces his magic will be discernable enough from my own for the spell to work, but I have to have all of them. All I have left to do is alter the spell so that I can remove the soul pieces, and Voldemort's own magic without him being a willing participant in the ritual." he replied as if it really was that simple.

"But what if you can't control his magic as you collect his soul pieces? What if he over- powers you?" she asked quietly in concern.

"I am powerful enough to keep him contained, you have to trust that. He possessed me once if you remember, and I handled it fine, and I wasn't nearly as powerful then as I am now," answered Harry.

"But what if you can't remove his magic with the spell like you think you can? It's not like you can test it before-hand. What if you collect all of the soul pieces, and the spell doesn't work? I know you are powerful Harry. I know you are more powerful than he is, but you are basically allowing him to possess you, allowing his magic to mix with your own, are you certain you can manage to control that for the next 800 years if you can't get rid of him? Surely that would take a toll on anyone." By the time Narcissa finished she was nearly yelling. She let go of Harry's and stood up, beginning to pace. "You have no right to make this decision without me Harry, I deserve for you to consider my concerns."

"No Narcissa, you have no right," he responded as he also stood. "You spent the last two weeks ignoring me simply because you didn't agree with my decision. Yes, you do deserve to have your concerns heard, but you should have voiced them weeks ago. You should have given me a chance to explain my decision like you are now. Instead, you avoided me and patronized me anytime I tried to be intimate with you as if loving me is a condition of me agreeing with you. And to make matters worse, the two of you ganged up on me, even though we promised we would never do that."

"This was too important Harry, she had to tell me!"

"Yes, and then you should have come to me and asked me about it, alone. You would be furious with me if I had the same," he answered.

"No," she said shaking her head vehemently. "If it was something this important, I would have understood." Harry raised his eyebrows at her incredulously.

"When you realize what a hypocrite you are being come and find me and we can finish this discussion, until then your concerns have been duly noted," said Harry as he left the room.

"That could have gone better, but he's right you know," whispered Milcah softly once he had gone. Narcissa turned away from the door and glared at her.

'We went about this the wrong way. We assumed he was making a typical rash Harry decision and focused on proving him wrong rather than asking him about it.' Narcissa sighed.

'Yes, I know you are right. It's just such an idiotic thing to do. Who voluntarily shares a body with pieces of Voldemort's soul?' Milcah laughed.

'Yes, it is. But we were unfair to assume that it wasn't a well thought out idiotic decision.' Narcissa nodded then squared her shoulders.

'I'll go and talk to him.'

'I'll go track down the children and bring them home for dinner. That will cheer him up.'

"Yes it will," said Narcissa with a smile. They went their separate ways. Narcissa asked Dobby where Harry was and then headed in the direction of the rose garden. She walked slowly as she thought about what she would say.

"I'm sorry Harry," she said when she found him. His still angry eyes looked over at her, but they quickly turned to concern as he heard the insecurities rushing through her mind. He walked over and pulled her in for a possessive kiss.

"I love you Narcissa, nothing will change that," said Harry sincerely. Narcissa sighed and nodded her head letting him hold her close.

"I'm sorry I ignored you, I just wanted so much for there to be another way that I didn't focus on much else. And you are right using intimacy, or lack thereof, as a way of getting what I wanted was manipulative and wrong of me. I am sorry I hurt you, and I won't do that again," said Narcissa in a rush.

"I wish there was another way Narcissa, I'm not terribly fond of allowing Tom to possess me either, but the only other way is to let him kill me and I'm pretty sure that is what Dumbledore is counting on. He has to know that I am a Horcrux. So, if I go that route, one of two things happens. He joins forces with Voldemort, and they destroy everything we hold dear, or he kills Voldemort himself for all the glory, and then he helps the next Dark Lord take over so he can do it all over again. This is the best way to keep either of those things from happening," replied Harry, as he kissed her temple. "Even Merlin knew this was the only way. Think about what he wrote in his letter, 'you will need all the love you can find to fight the darkness as it grows. The love from those who care for you will be your guiding light." I feel confident that this is what he meant."

"I will support you Harry, if this is what you choose, and I will be your anchor if fighting him becomes too much, I will do my best to help you carry the burden until it is no longer yours to carry. I will be there to remind you what you are fighting for," said Narcissa with a determined gleam in her eyes. Harry smiled.

'I'm counting on it. I have a feeling I will need you Narcissa.'

The next day Milcah started helping Harry alter the Magicae Effusio spell so that he could use it to absorb Horcruxes and eventually Voldemort's own soul. It took a lot of magical energy out of them both, and the mingling of their magic meant they had to take lots of breaks to 'deal' with the effects, but eventually they achieved what Harry wanted to, although neither slept any easier at the realization.

o – o – o – o – o

With this done, Harry had one more task he wanted to complete before they returned. He knew from his discussions with Narcissa that Voldemort had werewolves working for him and he knew he likely had the giants on his side as well, since he doubted Hagrid was successful at convincing any of them to join Dumbledore's side. He figured that if he could get them to side with him instead, then he had a good chance of turning the tide in this war. So, for the next five years he focused on a plan to convince them.

Harry finished this task the week after he turned thirty, when they had five years left in Albion. Ella had just turned fourteen and was interning with Narcissa to learn to be a healer. He had mostly mastered all Cathbad and Milcah had to teach him, and the warriors were mainly self-sufficient now. He had developed an entire tactical training program based on the training regimes of the elite forces around the world, and some of the more impressive warrior tribes he had read about. He planned to present the program to the ministry when they returned. Narcissa had assured him that the current head of the DMLE, a Madam Bones, was a stern, but fair person, and would at least hear him out. Harry decided to spend the last five years mastering all of the subjects taught at Hogwarts. It would be weird for an apparent 30-year-old to take his NEWTSs with the rest of the seventh years when they returned, so he would have to find another way to take them but take them he would. Narcissa deserved a fully educated husband, instead of a Hogwarts dropout.

A week later he was laying on the floor panting heavily after a duel with Narcissa.

"Great duel Harry, I suppose I have to let you win sometimes or you'll stop dueling with me and I do very much enjoy the after duel activities," she said huskily as she laid panting beside him.

"We could skip the duel and just do that you know," he responded as he sat up.

'But then you wouldn't be such a sweaty mess, what fun would that be. SCOURGIFY.' Then she sat up and moved so she was straddling his lap seductively. Once she had his full attention, she pulled him in for a searing kiss. When she felt him completely harden underneath her, she pulled away.

"You love me, don't you Harry," she whispered into his ear seductively.

"What do you want Narcissa? Asked Harry. Narcissa laughed.

'You don't want me to seduce you first?'

'I always want you to seduce me, but I'd rather get the argument out of the way first so I can enjoy it more.'

'What makes you so sure there is going to be an argument.' Harry raised his eyebrows.

'Narcissa, you're trying to seduce me before making some sort of request. We've been married for 15 years, if I haven't figured out by now that this is your way of trying to keep me from arguing with you then I'm completely daft.' Narcissa laughed.

'Yes, you do seem to know me quite well. Very well.' Narcissa sighed and then basically yelled out her request.

"I want you to blood adopt Draco!" Harry winced.

"But that makes him like -really- my son. I mean I know I'm like the step-father or whatever already, but doesn't that make it even more weird, for everybody?" Harry replied.

"He'll be three years younger than Ella when we return. So, it won't be any weirder than you being a 30-year-old with a 19-year-old daughter," answered Narcissa.

'He will be? I never realized that. That's odd to think about.'

"Harry, focus, please" said Narcissa in a shy whisper.

"Why is this so important to you Narcissa?" he asked.

"He will need protection, and this is the best way to protect him. I don't want him to have to carry the burden of the Malfoy name any longer. Ella cannot carry on the Potter-Black name, but Draco can. We can't have any more children Harry, so it is the best way to ensure your name continues when we disappear. You, Ella, and Draco are the most important things in my life, and I want us to be a real family."

"What makes you think Draco will agree to this?" asked Harry.

"I have a plan to convince him," Narcissa responded. Harry laughed

"I'm sure you do," he said as he kissed her forehead.

"What of Lucius? Do I have to duel him formally or something? I doubt he will let me walk out the front door with Draco," said Harry. Narcissa winced.

"No, he will not let you take Draco without a fight," responded Narcissa.

"So you expect me to kill him?" asked Harry in surprise.

"If you must," she responded.

"Well, maybe now would be a good time for me to take the elixir then? You've already taken it so you can't have any more children and if Draco is going to be my heir then I don't need to worry about that," said Harry.

"You don't want a spare, just in case?" asked Narcissa.

"If you think Draco will be up for the task I trust you," responded Harry.

"Well, I certainly would have no complaints about you looking like this for the next thirty years," said Narcissa as she ran her fingers up his chest.

"Let's get on with our post duel activities and then we can talk more about it, maybe tomorrow once I've had a chance to think about it?"

"Alright Harry," she whispered as she leaned down and kissed him passionately. The next day Harry agreed as long as it was Draco's choice, and then he brewed the elixir.

o – o – o – o – o

When Ella turned 17, she told Harry and Narcissa that she would not be returning with them. Her home was here. She was remarkably close with her sister Valmoira and already had a boyfriend and girlfriend of her own that she didn't want to leave behind. She had spent the last few years learning how be a healer from Narcissa and she felt like the villagers would need someone in that role when Narcissa left. Valmoira had proven to be an excellent diplomat and mediator and would be able to continue helping the villagers thrive. Narcissa had been heartbroken. But they both agreed, knowing it was what would make Ella happy. The Emrys family rings were only meant to bring them here once, so that set Harry on his last and final mission, ensuring that there was a way for them to come back and visit Ella, preferably without freezing the rest of the world.

A week before they were due to return, Harry and Narcissa sat down and discussed their plans.

"The first thing we will do is rescue Draco and then do the blood adoption if he agrees. After that we will present the tactical training program I developed to Director Bones and then get my NEWTs out of the way. After that, you can take up our Wizengamot seats and then focus on getting the allies we need in the Wizengamot to get the laws passed that we talked about," said Harry. Narcissa nodded along in amusement as Harry listed off their to-do list. "While you do that, I will track down any horcruxes Tom made and convince the werewolves and giants to join our side. Sounds simple enough." Narcissa laughed.

"I'm not sure about simple but hopefully achievable," responded Narcissa.

"We can do it Cissy, and then you can use all of that Emrys gold to buy your dream home and we can retire in peace," said Harry cheekily.

"There has never been a moment of peace with you Lord Emrys. I don't see that changing anytime soon," responded Narcissa with a chuckle.

"Are you ready to go back?" asked Harry.

"Yes and no, I will miss Ella and Milcah and Valmoira, but it will be good to see Draco again and the Flamels. It is easier returning then it was coming here. I know Ella is in good hands, and I haven't been able to have that same confidence regarding Draco," said Narcissa. Suddenly Harry laughed and Narcissa eyed him curiously.

"My friends are going to freak. I've tried not to think about them much since we came here, but somehow I completely missed how weird this was going to be. Next time they see me I'll have aged fifteen years, be married to the previous Lady Malfoy, be Lord Emrys and have Draco as a son. I never realized we would have to have some way of explaining all of this," said Harry. Narcissa chuckled.

'I was wondering when you were going to bring that up.'

'What do you think we should tell them?' Narcissa shrugged.

'The truth?'

'The truth? What that we spontaneously got married, were kidnapped by the Flamels, used the elixir to become immortal, and spent twenty years in Albion where we left behind a 19-year-old daughter?'

'Tell them we fell in love, you adopted my son because I asked you too, and blame the aging on a time paradox. You can tell them about the elixir later.'

'Will you rescue me when they have me committed to St. Mungo's?'

'Always.'

When the day came, Dobby and Winky stood in the clearing they had arrived in with Narcissa and Harry's suitcases while the pair said their goodbyes.

"Take care Cathbad, and keep an eye on the girls for me," said Harry as he clapped the now greying man on the back.

"You know I will," he said as he shook Harry's hand. Harry gave Milcah a passionate kiss goodbye but said nothing. Everything that needed to be said was said the night before. Then he kissed and hugged Ella and Valmoira goodbye and went to stand by Dobby and Winky while Narcissa made her rounds.

"I love you," she said to Milcah.

"I love you," she responded before giving her a languid kiss goodbye. "Take good care of him, he'll need your strength and your heart." Narcissa nodded. Then she went and kissed Ella all over her face until she pushed her away.

"I'll be fine mum. We'll take good care of everyone here. I promise," said Ella.

"I know you will. I'm so proud of you," responded Narcissa as tears welled in her eyes.

'Thanks mum, you better get going.' Narcissa nodded and hugged her tightly.

'Goodbye, Valmoira.'

'Goodbye aunt Cissy.' After a hug and a kiss to her cheek she went to stand next to Harry. Harry took her hand, tapped his ring, and then reached out for Dobby, and with a final wave they were gone.