Chapter 4

Harry sat on the shore of a lake. He stared at the clear calm water stretching far into the distance. "It's quiet, isn't it?"

Harry looked at the girl with scarlet hair sitting beside him. "Yeah," he said.

"Do you know where this is?" the girl asked.

Harry shrugged. "Somewhere in Underhill I suspect.

"Underhill?" the girl asked.

"Otherworld, Faeryland, Elphame, Underhill, pick your name. I prefer Underhill, so that's what I call it."

The girl smiled. "I like it. She looked up at the sun rising overhead. "It's almost time to wake up, isn't it?"

Harry nodded glancing up at the sky. He glanced at the blond. "I'm going to miss you."

"And I you." The lake in front of them seemed to waver as if it were being seen through a heat haze. In the next second, Harry was staring up at the ceiling of his room.

He stretched before climbing out of bed. Walking over, he stared at the mirror in front of him. His black hair fell part way down his neck and his Emerald green eyes stared out of a narrow face.

His cheek bones were flat and slightly too long to be human. His hair appeared to shift colors from blond, to silver, and back to black. His body was slim and wiry like a swimmer. Not for the first time, he wondered how much of his appearance was the glamour his mother had placed on him.

He scowled. "Aurora still wouldn't tell him anything about his parents. All he knew was that they were alive and that they hadn't given him up willingly. Beyond that, he knew nothing.

Sighing, he reached out with his mind, drawing magic from Underhill. A simple t-shirt and jeans appeared on the bed. Harry pulled them on, socks materializing in his hands a few moments later.

"Really wish Aurora would let me have my clothes back," he muttered. Aurora was determined to teach him to use his magic. To that end, she had taken his clothes and forced him to materialize his clothes from Underhill. Objects conjured from Underhill didn't fade away with time because in the land of the fae, magic was the land and the land was magic. So, when conjuring something, you were transmuting existing matter and then summoning the object to your location. He was broken out of his thoughts by Aurora's voice.

"Harry," she said. "Time for breakfast.

As Harry entered the kitchen, he smiled at his Godmother. "Hi Aurora," he said.

Aurora smiled back, glancing at his shirt and Jeans. "Good work, but I see you haven't gotten the hang of designs yet."

Harry shook his head. "I'm having a hard time picturing the shirt with the design I want on it. The image has to be so clear. I have to keep the image of the clothes and the designs. Remind me again why I need this? Underhill has seamstress's blacksmiths and every other form of profession. "Why di I need to know how to conjure clothes?"

"Because you may one day find yourself in a situation where conjuration will save your life. You have a basic understanding of wards which is good, but your crafting needs work."

Harry sighed and slumped down at the table. "If I had a teacher, that would help."

Aurora smiled. "You're still doing very well. I'm working on getting you a teacher."

The sound of a bell being struck drew their attention.

"Someone is here," Aurora said.

Harry drew a long silver dagger from his jeans while Aurora pulled a bronze short sword from somewhere. They both turned to the door and approached it slowly.

Aurora waved a hand and the door swung open. A tall old man with long white hair and beard smiled at them. "Good morning," he said. "I see I have finally found you."

"Dumbledore," Aurora said.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "I believe you have me at a disadvantage. "May I ask how you know me?"

"Your reputation proceeds you. It is not everyday one of the most powerful wizards in Europe comes to my door."

Dumbledore smiled his blue eyes twinkling madly. "May I ask your name?"

"Aurora," the woman said.

"And you are a witch I presume?"

"Something like that."

"I see," Dumbledore said turning his attention to Harry. "Harry," I haven't seen you since you were a baby."

Harry frowned at the use of his name, but decided to let it go. "I don't remember you, sir," he said respectfully.

"No," Dumbledore said chuckling. "I don't suppose you would.

"I don't mean to be rude," Aurora began as the sword she held vanished, "but why are you here?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "May I come in? It is quite warm out here."

Aurora nodded. Stepping back, she gestured for him to enter. As Dumbledore stepped over the threshold, a white hound with red ears stepped in behind him. A swan flew down from the rafters and landed on Harry's shoulder.

The swan stared at Dumbledore with emerald green eyes. The hound paced right behind Dumbledore, growling softly.

"Easy," Aurora said gently. "I do not believe Dumbledore is here to harm us."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "I can give you a magical oath if you wish?"

"I do not think that will be necessary for the moment," Harry said.

Dumbledore sighed and gestured to the three Armchairs spaced around the room. "May I sit?" he asked.

Aurora nodded. "Certainly. "Would you like something to eat or drink?"

'No thank you MS," Dumbledore said pausing for a few seconds.

"Call me Aurora,' Aurora told him as she and Harry took their seats.

Dumbledore looked around the cabin. It appeared to be made up of three rooms. The room they sat in seemed to be a kitchen living room hybrid with a dining room table, stove, three armchairs, and a television against the far wall. The other two rooms, from what he could see were bedrooms. He was pulled from his observation as Aurora spoke.

"I would like to know why you are here."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I will be happy to answer your questions, but I would like to know how you obtained custody of Harry."

"That is not information you need," Aurora said. "Why are you here?"

Dumbledore stared into Aurora's grey eyes. There was something about this woman. She did not seem magically powerful, but she was dangerous none the less. He decided it would be prudent to answer her questions.

"Harry has a place at Hogwarts," he said. "I am here to take him to get his school supplies."

"Hogwarts," Aurora said. "You mean the school for wizards?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said.

"I believe I can take him to get his school supplies if you leave his list with me."

"I would like to accompany you," Dumbledore said.

"If you would like one of your staff to accompany us, that would be acceptable. However, I do not trust you."

"You do not know me," Dumbledore said.

"You left Harry with abusive relatives. I do not need to know more than that."

"It was the only place he would be safe," Dumbledore protested.

The hound growled and the swan let out an angry shriek. "Safe," Aurora hissed. "They tortured him."

"I am sure you exaggerate. However, that is neither here nor there. The wards around the Dursley home have long since fallen. Regardless of the safety of the home, it is a moot point. I could not recreate the wards. It has been too long since their destruction."

"Nevertheless," Aurora said. "I would prefer another member of your staff take us to get Harry's school supplies."

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I shall arrange for my deputy to come here tomorrow. Would that be acceptable?"

"You'll have to bring her," Aurora said. "You will find yourself unable to speak of this place."

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I shall see you tomorrow."

Dumbledore rose and left the house.

**C**

"He gave up on me returning to the Dursleys too easily," Harry said.

"I agree," Aurora said. "I do wonder what he is planning."

"How did he find this place?" Harry asked.

"Something we will have to find out in time."

"What will we do tomorrow?" Harry asked.

"Most of your equipment can be picked up with this deputy present. However, we will need to get rid of her when we retrieve your foci."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Your Mother commissioned it special."

"From Olivander?"

"Yes," Aurora said. "If it was made correctly, I believe you will find it useful in more than one way."

The swan let out a mournful cry and nuzzled Harry's head. Harry smiled and stroked her feathers.

"So, I guess we wait?" he asked.

"Yes," Aurora said. "We wait."

**C**

Dumbledore sank into the chair behind his desk, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Harry was nothing like what he'd expected. Not to mention, he had no idea who his guardian was.

The only Aurora he knew was Aurora Sinistra and this woman was not her. He frowned. Something was different about the magic surrounding the home. It felt… odd. He would have to keep a close eye on the boy. Whatever magic he was being taught was not wizardry.

He was sure McGonagall would agree to accompany him. He would just have to find a way to get information from her. Minerva could be quite stubborn when she wanted to be.

**C**

Aurora sat outside the cabin staring out into the forest. The swan swooped down and landed on her shoulder.

"I don't trust him," she said. "He's planning something.

The swan trilled. Aurora scowled at the bird.

"What's the point in him attending Hogwarts? I can teach him what he needs to know and when you return to your natural state, you can complete his training."

The swan shook its head. The hound slipped out of the trees and nudged Aurora's leg, huffing up at her.

"You want him to meet children his own age? They're not the same as him. Even by wizard standards, fae live far longer than mortals. If Harry tries to integrate himself into wizard society, it'll eventually be noticeable. Besides, wizards aren't any better than any other mortal when dealing with someone that is different."

The swan pecked Aurora on the wrist sharply. Aurora rubbed her wrist and scowled.

"Peck me all you want, but the truth is still the truth. I do not like this. I think it is a mistake. Dumbledore cannot be trusted. He has his own agenda."

The hound barked sharply. Aurora glanced down at him.

"If you don't trust Dumbledore, then why is Harry going there?"

The swan trilled.

"If Harry needs to meet someone, then why not let me arrange it?"

The swan shook its head, staring at Aurora sternly.

Aurora sighed. "Fine," she said. "If something happens to him, I'll kill every adult in Hogwarts and take the children to Faery, curse or no curse."

The swan nodded and seemed to smile at her. Aurora stood and turned back towards the cabin.

"Harry should be done with his math homework by now."

The hound barked.

"Because he needs to be well rounded if he's going to integrate into mortal society."

**C**

Ariana watched the black-haired teen train with the sword. The redcap lunged at him, but the teen dodged the strike and swept the legs out from under the redcap. Before he could strike the final blow, Ariana called to him.

"Stop," she commanded.

The boy turned to face her. "Mum?" he asked.

"This is training, not an actual battle. You can't kill him."

The teen nodded and sheathed the sword on his back. As he approached her, Ariana smiled at him. Her plan was right on schedule. She was glad time in Underhill passed differently than on the mortal plain. The fact it was currently flowing faster was helping her plans nicely.

"You've done well Hadrian," she said. "You have progressed far faster than I thought you would."

Hadrian nodded to her. "Thank you, Mother," he said. "When do I return to the mortal realm?"

"Soon my son," she said. "Very soon, but we need to wait until the time is right."

Hadrian bowed his head. He'd learned patience from his mother. He could wait to claim what was rightfully his."

"Come," Ariana said. "You must feed.

Hadrian's eyes flashed black. "I am hungry," he said.

Ariana led the boy out of the training room, ignoring the redcap as the fae climbed to his feet.

The redcap glared at the retreating duo. He needed to find his master before the insane queen did whatever it was, she intended to do."

Swiftly, he stepped into the shadows and vanished.