Here is the fifth full chapter in Book 5, released on time as promised. This the third chapter in the Omashu arc as the arc in the Avatar's home area continues to progress and the various players emerge. Anyway, that is all I have for now though and as there isn't anything to respond to that means that it time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 5th full installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 5: Duty.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 5

"Auntie."

That was not what Lily had expected to hear. Looking up at the man, her jaw fell open in shock at what she saw standing there. The light was dim and green tinted in the Tomb but that didn't hide the face she was looking at. The rumors about their family's odd trait were clearly true.

Staring back at her was the spitting image of her eldest brother James. Same body type, build, aura of confidence, and hair color, though this man had rugged hair similar to what her father had had in his youth rather than the military style James had favored.

The only difference was his eyes. They were glacial blue, a color no one in her immediate family had though her uncle Ron had blue eyes, so it likely existed somewhere, and not the chocolate brown that James had had. He was as much like James as James was like Harry and Harry his father who James had been named after. Except, like with the others, he had his mother's eyes, whoever she was. It was the family coincidence for sure.

Lily had to admit, when she got the call from the hut that controlled the Tombs saying that the sensor in her family's tomb had been tripped she had no idea what to expect. She had been back in the city for a few weeks to see her family and track down a few wanted Triad Bosses who had fled to Omashu to avoid arrest after the RCPD had finally gotten enough evidence to charge them. That was why she had been called and not the Omashu PD, this was her family's Tomb, so she had first priority if she was in town.

The duty tomb keeper said that an odd man in a hood with a Republic City accent had been the only visitor that day. Naturally, this had raised the hackles on Lily's back, and she instantly went to check it out. She was in such a hurry that she just jumped into the canyon and used her earthbending to land, something not technically illegal but certainly frowned upon given the sacred nature of the Tombs.

It hadn't mattered, she had to make sure she arrived in time to find the person still there. They had set up the system after a Principate fanatic had found the tomb and began worshipping at it. The person turned out to be wanted by the ICTP, so he was arrested and as far as Lily knew he was still in prison for the crimes he'd committed as a Principate official. After that, the rule about questioning any visitor who did not have pre-clearance was made.

Since then, few had found out that James was buried here. Of them, one was a history buff honestly interested in the tomb and those of others within the current Avatar's family, 2 were Principate supporters making a pilgrimage who hadn't committed a crime but were now being monitored just in case, and 4 had come trying to destroy the tomb out of vengeance only to be deterred and heavily fined for their actions.

As such, Lily was worried when she saw a hooded figured with a hand on the glass murmuring to himself as he looked at James's final resting place. She hadn't heard what he said but was certainly curious. She had to find out who this mysterious man was.

As expected, the man had been vague about his identity and purpose for visiting. A clear red flag to Lily and she had to detain him to learn more about his intentions. She had been forced to fight before but most of the time those who came here weren't talented enough to even be a minor nuisance to someone of her skills. That was why Lily expected it to be easy, she was an accomplished bender after all, and had disregarded the man's warnings as bluster given how she'd heard that shit many times in the past.

Boy did she wish she hadn't, it was a rookie mistake she shouldn't have let herself get complacent enough to make. His reactions, speed and skill were second to none that Lily had seen. She'd trained with the best and this guy was up there with them. The way he not only cleanly cut her attacks away, but also kept the remains from harming the tombs was impressive to say the least.

Then he had gone on the offense. Lily had sparred a lot with James and her father in her time and this guy was just as good as they had been in their peak. Even in the enclosed space he had created a powerful earth wave aimed right at her and not causing damage to the alcoves in the tomb, an act of control that few could have mustered. Then he had pulled the fucking earth from under her and caused her to crash to the floor right as she landed. That was a high-level move and required the connection to the earth that few could master.

At that point Lily had known she was dealing with a talented bender on her level, and she would have to lavabend to give herself an edge. He wouldn't give her the chance. The way he leapt, spun and bent at the same time reminded her of the fluidity of a waterbender, something she and not her brother could manage and gave her thoughts on his mother's origin, it would explain his eyes as the Polar Tribes were known for their blue eyes. Then he had landed behind her and had the blades at her throat.

It was unexpected, she had been bested in seconds by a bender she had never seen before which was next to impossible, she made sure to know of the benders who could actually challenge her, but this guy had slipped past that scrutiny. Added to it was that he had positioned the blades to ensure no mark but so that he could act before she could took a move, something that required exceptional control and precision.

Then there had been the shiny glint of the metal, they were clearly made of platinum. How he had drawn and retracted them so quickly had stunned her and added to his claim that he was James's son because Lily couldn't think of a way he could have drawn them that quickly without metalbending.

Still, Lily was ready to lavabend into his back and win and take him into custody in the process. She had the lava already forming when he struck. She was a known lavabender, so it wasn't a surprise he was prepared to counter her. What was a surprise was the chi blocking. She had never been chi blocked before, her skills and lava defense had protected her in the past, and it fucking sucked to not be able to bend. Then he had revealed himself and everything made sense.

"You, you really are his son." Lily spat out, her breathing ragged from the fight and the chi blocking. "Aren't you?"

"I am." The man said with a nod. "And I am willing to see a truth seer regarding this and to prove that I hold no ill intentions towards you or this place."

"Trust me, I intend to take you to one who I trust." Lily said as she pulled herself up and sat against the wall of the tomb knowing that if he wanted her dead he could have killed her by now, so she felt she was safe, for the moment. "But I have a few more questions to ask first."

"Well given how I just beat you and you won't be able to bend for a while I could just leave and with my bending, the only way you'd catch me would require destroying half the countryside which if we battled in an open area would happen." The man replied and Lily knew it was the truth, it would be destructive if she clashed with this man in the open. "I don't have to do shit. However, I came here to see where my father was buried so that I could move on from his past, so I wasn't expecting to see one of the few members of my family still alive. However, seeing as you're here, I will answer your questions on one condition."

"What?" Lily asked.

"Bring me to the Avatar." The man said boldly. "I wish to see my grandfather and if you are the one bringing me then I feel he will be more open to see me face to face. This may be my only chance to see him and explain myself."

"I can do that." Lily said with a nod, she was already planning that so it wouldn't be too hard to promise it. "He can truth see you and verify your story."

"Can't you truth see?" The man asked. "I was told you are a talented earthbender who can use seismic sense, that is public knowledge, I just assumed you could truth see as well."

"Not all of us who can use seismic sense can truth see." Lily said shaking her head. "It requires a real talent for it and dedicated training, and I never understood the nuances of it. I could master the sight but I could never get the nuances that are required for truth seeing. Dad can, James could, but they're the only ones in the family who can, not even my grandparents could."

"You are telling the truth." The man said surprising her. "I can tell as well, I mastered it shortly after mastering seismic sense. It might be due to the metalbending and the need to pick out the smallest impurities to bend it and you aren't a metalbender."

"No shit, I am not surprised you can do it." Lily said before asking something more for confirmation. "So, I assume you can bend platinum as well, right? Those gauntlets of yours are clearly made of the stuff and we all know how pure that metal is."

"I can." The man said with a nod. "As well as dad could, maybe even better. I inherited his gift so to speak. It is not an easy achievement but it can be done."

"You will have to prove it later, if anything can confirm your claims that is." Lily said. "It will help convince anyone who has doubts to them."

"As with everything, I will do so." The man agreed. "So, what else do you need to know before we see the Avatar?"

"I want to know everything and seeing as it will be a while before I can bend again, and we aren't leaving until I can, you may as well spill it all." Lily said. "I want to know your name, who your mother is, your history, how you flew under the radar for so long, what you do, everything. However, I feel like it would be redundant to get that shit twice as dad will also want to know."

"It would be so for now I will tell you my name while you recover enough strength to walk and bend." The man said. "And a little about myself but somethings I will wait on until I see the Avatar."

"Yeah, how long will this shit last?" Lily asked annoyed. "No one has ever managed to chi block me before, it was always hard to get near me once I started lavabending."

"An hour or so I'd say." The man said with a shrug. "I'm good at it and well-practiced, I use it at least once a week in my night job protecting the legitimate businesses in the Dragon Flats district, so I know what I am doing. It will be a few more minutes until you can stand though and another few before you can walk without aid and I know that you are going to want to avoid suspicion."

"True I want to avoid that shit; I do have an image to uphold so I can't be seen to have been bested by some randomer." Lily agreed. "Very well, we wait. In the meantime, what is your name?"

"My name, the one my parents called me when I was born and that I reclaimed when I disavowed the views of the Principate as I'd used a false one since it fell, is Sirius." Sirius said with a smile. "And yes, I was named after Chief Sirius of the Northern Water Tribe. Dad thought it would be a good idea to name me after his own namesake's best friend and an accomplished leader in his own right. That way, the next Princeps would be prepared to take the wreath when the time came."

Lily just nodded as she absorbed the information. The name made sense and she knew that Sirius had been the second choice for James's name when he was born, a fact that James knew well, so it was appropriate that he would name his own son that. It added to the believability of it all as well as Sirius wasn't a common name.

Sirius didn't say anything else, only went back to grab his bag and take one last look at his father's alcove. Then he busied himself setting everything back to the way it was so that there was no evidence of a fight taking place here. By the time he was done, it was as if there had been no bending in the tomb at all.

By that point, Lily had regained enough energy to stand and lean against the wall. When Sirius was done, she took a few shaky steps, felling a little off being unable to bend but she managed it just fine, it was nothing compared to the injuries she'd taken dueling James during the war. She refused his hand when he offered it to her and walked a little bit before she was able to do so without aid or shakiness.

"Alright, it's time." Lily said looking over to Sirius as she felt her connection to the earth return. "Come on, let's go see the Avatar. Spirits know how this will turn out."

With that Lily began walking to the entrance to the Tomb with Sirius in tow. She had no idea how her father would react to his grandchild, but this wasn't the first time this had happened, so he had experience. It was who's child that was the problem and Lily hoped her father would be able to handle it.

-break-

Sirius followed Lily in silence as they left the Tomb and exited into the dim cavern. It was getting on in the day and the sun was setting thus adding to the darkness of the gorge. Near the entrance to the tomb was an impact crater that had certainly not been there when Sirius arrived, however.

"Your doing?" He asked Lily as they passed it.

"Had to get here quick once I knew that someone was in the tomb." Lily said with a shrug. "Couldn't really wait for a lift so I just leapt in. On that note, you had better come up with a convincing story and pull that hood up, people here know my dad's face and yours is too familiar to his to avoid suspicion despite the hair length and odd eye color."

"Right, can do." Sirius agreed pulling his hood up and thinking of a convincing cover story, it took a moment to come up with it, but he had it. "Alright I have an excuse. The guy can't truth see can he?"

"The lift guy, nope." Lily said shaking her head. "The art is rare enough that anyone who can master it and can prove themselves trustworthy can get a job just about anywhere. In Omashu, other than dad, there are 2 known truth seers. One serves the Imperial Governor and the other works for the criminal courts; both are paid above the cap for governmental positions due to their skills."

"Ah I see." Sirius said with a nod as they fell into silence on their walk to the lift.

Sirius was thinking over his interaction with Lily and whether he had made the right decision to stay here. He could have just left, earthbent his way up and been back in Republic City by early morning but he hadn't done that.

Instead, after beating a bender who could actually challenge him, he had revealed the truth to his aunt. Part of it had been for the shock value, that had been pretty good, and her reaction was priceless, but part of it had been more.

Sirius had been wanting to seek out his remaining family for years and now he had, and he couldn't pass up that opportunity the moment it presented itself. He also wanted to make amends for what his father had done, how he had dishonored the family with his actions and crimes. Sirius wanted to be able to restore that honor, at least as much as he could, and explaining as much to his grandfather might help.

"Chief Lily, I didn't know that you would get the call." The man on duty said as they approached the lift, he was the same from earlier which surprised Sirius. "I didn't even know you were in the city."

"I got in a few days ago and hadn't found the time to come pay my respects to Albus as I normally do." Lily responded smoothly. "As for not seeing me, I had to get down a different way given the circumstances. Speed was of the utmost, so I took the express way."

"I understand." The man said turning to Sirius. "So, care to explain why you were in that tomb? I was confused by you but didn't expect you to be where you were as few know what is buried there. I know you aren't from that family, so why where you there?"

"I apologize for being obtuse, but I have travelled a long way to make a personal viewing of the man who saved my life a long time ago and didn't want to explain that." Sirius said with a bow of his head as he began to explain the cover story he'd come up with. "I was but a young boy, no older than 4 years old, a wandering Water Mystic came to my poor village. I was sick, very sick, with a fever and might die had he not shown up."

Sirius paused for a moment for effect so that the guy understood his story. That and so that Lily could adjust to it and back him up when he needed it.

"He healed me and restored me to health despite my family being poor." Sirius continued. "I have never taken anything for granted since then as he gave me a second chance at life. I never knew his name, no one did such is the way of the Water Mystic, but I found out after much searching. He was Albus, the son of Avatar Harry and the noble hero who sacrificed himself to save countless lives from a Spirit Weapon attack during the Principate War. So, you see, it was deeply personal to me, and I didn't wish to explain. I was unaware of the rules and apologize for causing any issues."

"Oh of course, I am sorry for prying." The man said as they got onto the earth elevator and began to ascend. "I have heard of the many lives Albus saved in his life, be it as a Mystic or a soldier, and can understand the need to pay respects to such a great hero."

"No need, I should have been forthright given who else might have been there, but my mind was elsewhere." Sirius said dismissively. "I hadn't even thought about what might happen when I came here. I wasn't aware that that man was buried there as well. I thought his ashes had been scattered after the war so as to avoid his tomb becoming some weird shrine to his evil."

"It is not common knowledge and we would like to keep it that way." Lily said playing along with the lie. "We let people believe that was the case but family sticks together in death, regardless of what happened in life. My brother was a monster, but he is gone now, so to is the evil he represented. That is why his remains are here."

"Of course, I will honor that." Sirius said bowing his head. "My lips are sealed. I have come to see what I had to see and am satisfied that I have seen the alcove of a great and kind man. I have paid my respects and can go home in peace."

"Very well, I will escort you to the station, just to make sure." Lily said as they reached the top of the canyon. "Thank you, I know you understand not to speak of this."

"My oaths to protect the tombs ensure that I never divulge the secrets down there lest I face the harsh repercussions." The man said as Lily tipped him generously. "You have a pleasant day."

Lily just nodded and set off, Sirius hurrying after her. They continued in silence around the city for a few hours as the sun continued to set. It was just a line over the horizon when they came to the stone bridge to Omashu.

Instead of going over the bridge, Lily continued to a small entrance in a mountain off to the side that he wouldn't have noticed had he not been here. Sirius followed and a moment later they were in an underground parking lot full of satomobiles.

"Omashu doesn't allow vehicular traffic due to the constrains of the city with the exception of a special area for delivery vehicles near the metal bridge." Lily explained as they headed over to an official looking vehicle that had no markings on it. "So, we park here if we drive to the city. There is an entrance nearby that will cut the distance to dad's place."

"So, the Avatar isn't in the city?" Sirius asked as they got into the vehicle and Lily started it. "I thought he had a place there where he resides most of the time these days."

"He does but it is seldom used." Lily said as they got going. "There is a family place in the city, it's where dad grew up in fact, as well as one in Republic City where I grew up and a place granddad bought in the Upper Ring of Ba Singe Se back when he was an Imperial Senator. I use the place in Republic City naturally, but the others are more for convenience. The place here is used whenever someone has to be in Omashu, and the place in Ba Sing Se is rented out to the current junior Senator for Omashu."

"So where exactly is the Avatar?" Sirius asked curiously. "I know he retired from public life, but I thought it was to the city of Omashu not outside it."

"King Wu gifted him and mom a large parcel of land on the foothills outside of the city with a large estate house for their wedding that is on par with the great noble estates of the old days." Lily said as they left the parking structure and set out on the road, heading northeast of the city. "Its location is not known to many for privacy's sake, and we are not taking a direct route so that you can't figure out exactly where it is but that is where my parents live. The estate is technically still within the State of Omashu which was a requirement, but it is a fair bit from the city itself."

"I understand." Sirius said with a nod. "A little place in the countryside to retire too, that makes more sense than him living in the city now that I think on it."

"Yup and since his retirement, dad has spent most of his time here." Lily said as they drove. "After mom retired that as well is as she was Chief Dominique's Head Healer for a few years after my cousin took her place on the Southern Throne. They've been here for almost 13 years now. It has served dad well. Hopefully this won't change it."

"I don't intend to change it; I just want to meet him." Sirius said as they fell into silence.

The rest of the drive neither spoke. Sirius knew that they were taking a circuitous route and realized that even if he did know these roads, which he didn't, he would have had no hope in finding the place again thanks to the mountains and the lack of light. That wasn't what was on his mind, however.

No, what he was thinking about was what he was going to say when he met the Avatar at last. He had never expected to see his grandfather but as they pulled into the traditionally long driveway of a noble Earth Estate, he knew that would change. Sirius had no idea how this was going to go down, but he knew one thing. He was going to do everything he could to make sure that he wasn't his father. It was time to begin restoring his family's honor.

-break-

Harry felt the vibrations long before the satomobile pulled into his driveway. He wasn't wearing shoes and the floors of his place were stone, so his seismic sense was at its highest while like this. It helped that he continued to practice it but even without practice he would have felt it. Someone was coming and in his guy Harry couldn't shake the feeling that this was something big for some reason.

Getting up from his chair in his study where he was reading an old book, Harry left and went towards the front door to greet his visitor. Ginny came out of the kitchen where she was preparing a light dinner for them as Harry made his way to the door.

"Honey, what's up?" His wife asked him.

"Someone's coming." Harry said looking at his wife of almost 60 years. "And I am not sure who it is, but this place isn't supposed to be easy to find so it has to be important."

"If they are driving then they are likely coming from Omashu and the only people there right now who know this location are the Governor and Lily." Ginny pointed out. "At this time of day, it is likely Lily. We know she's in the area and going to come visit as she always does so it has to be her."

"True it probably is but I will go and check, just to be sure." Harry said. "Knowing Lily, she's already finished her hunt in Omashu ahead of schedule and is coming here to tell us about it as a surprised and get some home cooking."

"Probably." Ginny agreed with a chuckle. "I tried to teach her how to cook but she takes after you in that department, she's more of a liability in the kitchen than an asset. Earthbender through and through."

"For the most part." Harry agreed with a smile. "She still got a lot from you. Her fighting style is that of a Southern waterbender thanks to you. It's what makes her lavabending so deadly to face."

"This is true." Ginny agreed. "Be careful though, you never know what may happen. It has been quiet for too long for my tastes. I can feel something big coming in my old bones. That or I may just be paranoid as we are nearing the record for longest peace in our lifetimes so I'm afraid that something may end that soon."

"Agreed but I can handle myself." Harry said with a smirk that Ginny just rolled her eyes at and went back into the kitchen. "I may be old but I'm still the Avatar."

"I'll make more just in case." Ginny said as she headed back to the kitchen. "If it is Lily she'll be starving."

"Thanks, dear." Harry said as he approached the door.

The Avatar hadn't change much in his years of retirement. He kept his training up, if not more so now that he was in his early 80s and had outlived his last 2 predecessors by at least a decade each, so that he could still fight if need be.

There were difference though. He kept his hair short these days and had a short, well kept, beard, neither of which he had done in the past as he used to favor long hair and a clean-shaven appearance, though he'd had a ragged beard during the Principate War. Both were now snow white due to his age, but the difference made Harry feel like he was in the last era of his life and separate from when he was a public figure for the majority of his life.

As Harry opened the front door, he was greeted by the warm summer evening air. It was warm enough for him to only need to wear a gray short sleeved shirt and green pants. It was comfortable and far from the formal shit he had had to deal with back in the day, but he was home, so he didn't need to do any of that crap anymore. It was just what he liked.

The biggest difference that the Avatar had from his past though was the special glove he wore on his right hand. He was wearing a fingerless leather glove with metal plates on it that left all, but the tips of his fingers exposed. The glove extended up to his lower arm, so it covered his wrist as well with similar plates there that had been fit to the contours of his wrist. The plates were made of steel and Harry could easily bend them without thinking at this point.

It was the one holdover from the Principate War. The one permanent reminder, along with his many scars, from that final fight with James. Harry had never fully recovered movement in his right hand and wrist which was why had to wear the brace on it almost all the time.

He had practiced with it for years and now his bending was second nature with it. He also had to wear braces on his right elbow, shoulder, and knees of he wanted to get into combat but that was not a full-time thing like the glove, so he didn't need to wear them right now.

Taking a step out of the front door, and onto the stone driveway, Harry walked forward with only the trace of limp from the knee injury he had suffered though he'd need his cane if he was to walk for an extended period of time without his brace. With a flick of his wrists, Harry sent several small jets of fire into the lanterns that were at this end of the driveway so that they could see him standing there as they arrived. Then he closed his eyes and sent out his seismic sense.

The vehicle approaching, it was at least halfway down the long driveway now, was familiar to him. It was the Omashu PD unmarked vehicle that Lily used whenever she was in the area. Harry smiled; his daughter was coming to visit. However, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had so he looked further and into the car. That confirmed his uneasy feeling.

Lily was there, he could pick her out without a problem, but she was with someone. It was a man who he didn't know but had an oddly familiar physic who was with her in the vehicle for some reason.

Harry had no idea why Lily would bring someone with her, maybe a new boyfriend but that was unlikely as Lily seemed to be married to her job, so Harry didn't know why she had someone with her. Regardless, he trusted his daughter and expected her to do the right thing if she was bringing someone here.

With that, Harry opened his eyes as the vehicle pulled in and stopped just in front of Harry. He could see Lily and a hooded man in the cab muttering and then Lily hopped out of the vehicle. Harry kept a wary eye on the man but smiled at his daughter and only remaining child and opened his arms to hug her.

"Lily good to see you." Harry said as his daughter pulled away and took a step back from him. "Are you done in Omashu already?"

"No but, well something happened today, something more important and I had to bring it to you." Lily said biting her lip. "Or rather bring him to you."

"Ah so it has to do with the man with you." Harry said looking at his daughter. "That's why you aren't here alone, isn't it?"

"Yup." Lily said with a nod.

"Well, who is he?" Harry asked.

"It's probably best if you saw him yourself." Lily said and she gestured to the car. "It's hard to explain without you seeing him."

The man clearly took that as his cue and got out. He was wearing a green travelling cloak with the hood up so Harry couldn't make out his face in this light. He was clearly an earthbender and had the build of a one who trained regularly.

As he approached, Lily gestured again and he lowered his hood. Once Harry saw his face he gasped, knowing exactly why Lily had brought him. Harry was well aware of his family's strange trait to know who he was looking at.

"Dad, I want you to meet your grandson Sirius." Lily said before adding a confirmation Harry had never expected to encounter. "James's son."

Ah a nice little cliffhanger for y'all to enjoy because I am cruel like this. Well, it has taken almost 5 full chapters but at last Harry is back and from this point on he will be one of the two main focus characters in Book 5, naturally as he is the Avatar, I just had to set everything up first before he could come in as there were a few moving parts. There is still one more thing to finish the opening arc and I am sure you know what is coming so I will leave it here for now. As always any questions in PMs or reviews will be answered before the start of the next chapter (as well as replied to if possible). Please follow, favorite and review, all are greatly appreciated. Until next week.

Stringdog