Again Chap 3 this time with help from Hermoine Green. Thank you! It's crazy. I've dished out two more chaps and working on another. I got this sudden spurt of inspiration and I'm hoping it'll last a while. So to whoever is reading please review! It's really a confidence booster…aside from flames of course but you know what I mean. Help me out here. And this time I came up with a neato torpedo chapter title. I haven't really tried naming them.
I don't own HP, if I did I wouldn't be in the Army…
Here ya go…
The Legacy Of the Pendragons
Chapter 3- Tears for the Sick and Beers for the Dead
***
"How about Lily then?"
The stallion nodded and picked up her pace.
"It was my mother's name you know. She died saving my life…"
***
"My mother had deep red hair. I imagine she looked like a Weasley when she went to school."
Harry had kept Lily at a slow pace content to just talk to his new found friend. Donovan was right in saying they understood. He would watch her responses, though very subtle, he knew she understood. He also wondered how many pegas kept company with muggles who thought their horse was a little special.
After Harry felt he talked enough he lifted his head up his and took in his surroundings. The countryside was not something he had seen often without something magical happening. Just seeing the vast rolling hills dotted with rocks and tree without something flying or bouncing around was refreshing. And for the first time he really looked at Lily.
Harry was too caught up in talking to her that he never looked at her. She was a deep brown only broken up at her legs by white socks. She was small, not at all like the German war horse looking pegas that Donovan rode. Lily seemed suited to him. She was what he assumed was average size, but looked fast. And speed was something Harry loved no matter what form it took.
Almost on cue, Lily turned her head and looked at Harry.
"Think we should catch up now Lily?" He asked smiling.
And she was off. Harry bent down low on her to reduce drag and he gripped his reins tightly.
Harry felt like he was flying, albeit very low. Not as fast as his Firebolt of course. It felt more exhilarating though, to be able to see the power that drove him forward instead of relying on some invisible magic. The hills became a blur and Harry could no longer make out shapes, only seeing lines before coming to an abrupt halt, Lily breaking into a trot next to Donovan.
"Already? I left you not more than ten minutes ago. Took me at least a day to figure Shannon's name. Takes most fellas longer than that. You sure on her name now?"
Harry nodded and patted Lily's mane.
"Yeah, I think Lily suits her just fine." And Harry felt her agreeing response.
"Lily? Nice name. I like it. I imagine you can…understand her now, right?"
"Yeah. It was like, once I named her, I knew her. I could read her body language and know how she felt."
"Yeah that's how it is. Once you name a pegas, you make a connection no one can break. A soul binding friendship type thing. Cept' you don't have to spend years with 'em to get to really know them."
Harry smiled at the little bit he learned, and took mental notes on them. And with that thought Harry's mind drifted to school and his friends.
The two rode in silence until nightfall, reaching a small village, looking out of place in the modern world, but completely at home in the countryside. There were a few homes and one large building. The large building was alive with lights and the sounds of laughter.
Donovan steered Shannon towards it and Harry followed suit. He had never really been in a pub, at least not one full of laughing and carousing people.
They dismounted and opened the double doors to receive and outspoken welcome.
"Donny! Hey everyone Donny's here!" One man yelled, swinging a frothing mug.
"Billy! What's goin' on here? Someone win the lotto?" Donny asked slapping his friend on the back.
Another man strode his way over and heaved a large hand onto Billy's shoulder.
"Nope, Billy's father died. Last night, too. Right in his sleep. Not peacefully either."
"Aye, Dad was all over his bed. Jus' like he said he would." And Billy contorted his face. "Billy! I'll be damned if I go in my sleep! Jonathan Drake Smith dun' fight through World War II to go out "peacefully". That's for them damn Frenchies! In my sleep…"
And the three started to breakout laughing while Harry looked on in disbelief. The Man had just lost his father and he was laughing? It made no sense to him at all. The man had a father in his life and he was laughing at his passing. Harry hadn't even known his father and he cried at the mere mention of him sometimes.
"Oh Where's my manners? This here's Harry Potter. I'm lookin' after him for a while." Donny ruffled his hair up and Harry brought his hand to Billy's. Billy shook it enthusiastically and stopped once he saw how Harry was looking at him.
"What's wrong Harry? You feeling ok?"
"Your father died sir." Harry looked at the ground, refusing to look Billy in the eye.
"Yeah, and about time too."
"About time?" Harry snapped. "Your father died! Shouldn't you be mourning him? Didn't you love your father?"
Billy only smiled and led him to the main table and sat him next to himself at the head of the table. Plates of food presented themselves and Harry ate slowly looking to Billy for his answer, and Billy only pointed down the table.
"Listen." He said.
"So Johnny says to 'em, "Heineken!?! Do I look German to you?...."
Further down the table…
"So "Jon's tellin' one of his "No Shit there I was" stories bout the war when this fly boy comes down and says, "German flak ain't nothing! Why I was in- "and WHAM! Guy doesn't finish his sentence! Johnny, in his ripe age, lays flat this twenty somethin' kid!"
Further still…
"I swear I've never puked so much in my life! I'll bet you still lose to a drinking match with Jon!"
"You challenged him? Are you insane!?!"
"The man was seventy years old! I'm only twenty five! Come on!"
"Man time in Her Majesty's Army must messed you up something bad…"
Harry looked back at Billy who only smiled, his eyes watering.
"See Harry? We are mourning. In our own way. We don't mourn his death Harry. We celebrate his life. My dad told me if less than half the pub was drunk then we failed him. He'd want us to be happy and drunk because that's what his life was about…..well more drunk than anything but you get the idea."
Slowly Harry nodded and left the table walking outside leaving Donny to his friends.
The moon held itself high in the clear sky. And in the sky he could see a certain star. His Godfather's star, Sirius the Dog star. It blinked blue and white against the black velvet of night, beckoning Harry to remember. Which he did.
He remembered the few times they shared. From their first to their last. Their love for one another, their connection, their devotion, and their friendship. Harry recalled the pensieve and how he looked with his father as they tortured his now Potions master. With his father, they were the fun loving pranksters of the school. He knew they earned their namesake as Marauders. He wouldn't want Harry to be sad about him. He didn't fall through the veil so he could be depressed about it whenever he thought about him.
"He'd want me to celebrate his life…" And Billy's words rang truth in their harmony, which painful to hear at first was now the opus he needed to hear. And with that realization Harry felt a burden lift from his shoulders, or more so, something build him up to carry that burden. The memory of his godfather no longer weighed him down, but lifted him up.
Harry walked over to Lily and stroked her neck.
"I'll never forget Sirius Black. He was my Godfather you know. I'll tell you about this time….."
***
I don't own HP, if I did I wouldn't be in the Army…
Here ya go…
The Legacy Of the Pendragons
Chapter 3- Tears for the Sick and Beers for the Dead
***
"How about Lily then?"
The stallion nodded and picked up her pace.
"It was my mother's name you know. She died saving my life…"
***
"My mother had deep red hair. I imagine she looked like a Weasley when she went to school."
Harry had kept Lily at a slow pace content to just talk to his new found friend. Donovan was right in saying they understood. He would watch her responses, though very subtle, he knew she understood. He also wondered how many pegas kept company with muggles who thought their horse was a little special.
After Harry felt he talked enough he lifted his head up his and took in his surroundings. The countryside was not something he had seen often without something magical happening. Just seeing the vast rolling hills dotted with rocks and tree without something flying or bouncing around was refreshing. And for the first time he really looked at Lily.
Harry was too caught up in talking to her that he never looked at her. She was a deep brown only broken up at her legs by white socks. She was small, not at all like the German war horse looking pegas that Donovan rode. Lily seemed suited to him. She was what he assumed was average size, but looked fast. And speed was something Harry loved no matter what form it took.
Almost on cue, Lily turned her head and looked at Harry.
"Think we should catch up now Lily?" He asked smiling.
And she was off. Harry bent down low on her to reduce drag and he gripped his reins tightly.
Harry felt like he was flying, albeit very low. Not as fast as his Firebolt of course. It felt more exhilarating though, to be able to see the power that drove him forward instead of relying on some invisible magic. The hills became a blur and Harry could no longer make out shapes, only seeing lines before coming to an abrupt halt, Lily breaking into a trot next to Donovan.
"Already? I left you not more than ten minutes ago. Took me at least a day to figure Shannon's name. Takes most fellas longer than that. You sure on her name now?"
Harry nodded and patted Lily's mane.
"Yeah, I think Lily suits her just fine." And Harry felt her agreeing response.
"Lily? Nice name. I like it. I imagine you can…understand her now, right?"
"Yeah. It was like, once I named her, I knew her. I could read her body language and know how she felt."
"Yeah that's how it is. Once you name a pegas, you make a connection no one can break. A soul binding friendship type thing. Cept' you don't have to spend years with 'em to get to really know them."
Harry smiled at the little bit he learned, and took mental notes on them. And with that thought Harry's mind drifted to school and his friends.
The two rode in silence until nightfall, reaching a small village, looking out of place in the modern world, but completely at home in the countryside. There were a few homes and one large building. The large building was alive with lights and the sounds of laughter.
Donovan steered Shannon towards it and Harry followed suit. He had never really been in a pub, at least not one full of laughing and carousing people.
They dismounted and opened the double doors to receive and outspoken welcome.
"Donny! Hey everyone Donny's here!" One man yelled, swinging a frothing mug.
"Billy! What's goin' on here? Someone win the lotto?" Donny asked slapping his friend on the back.
Another man strode his way over and heaved a large hand onto Billy's shoulder.
"Nope, Billy's father died. Last night, too. Right in his sleep. Not peacefully either."
"Aye, Dad was all over his bed. Jus' like he said he would." And Billy contorted his face. "Billy! I'll be damned if I go in my sleep! Jonathan Drake Smith dun' fight through World War II to go out "peacefully". That's for them damn Frenchies! In my sleep…"
And the three started to breakout laughing while Harry looked on in disbelief. The Man had just lost his father and he was laughing? It made no sense to him at all. The man had a father in his life and he was laughing at his passing. Harry hadn't even known his father and he cried at the mere mention of him sometimes.
"Oh Where's my manners? This here's Harry Potter. I'm lookin' after him for a while." Donny ruffled his hair up and Harry brought his hand to Billy's. Billy shook it enthusiastically and stopped once he saw how Harry was looking at him.
"What's wrong Harry? You feeling ok?"
"Your father died sir." Harry looked at the ground, refusing to look Billy in the eye.
"Yeah, and about time too."
"About time?" Harry snapped. "Your father died! Shouldn't you be mourning him? Didn't you love your father?"
Billy only smiled and led him to the main table and sat him next to himself at the head of the table. Plates of food presented themselves and Harry ate slowly looking to Billy for his answer, and Billy only pointed down the table.
"Listen." He said.
"So Johnny says to 'em, "Heineken!?! Do I look German to you?...."
Further down the table…
"So "Jon's tellin' one of his "No Shit there I was" stories bout the war when this fly boy comes down and says, "German flak ain't nothing! Why I was in- "and WHAM! Guy doesn't finish his sentence! Johnny, in his ripe age, lays flat this twenty somethin' kid!"
Further still…
"I swear I've never puked so much in my life! I'll bet you still lose to a drinking match with Jon!"
"You challenged him? Are you insane!?!"
"The man was seventy years old! I'm only twenty five! Come on!"
"Man time in Her Majesty's Army must messed you up something bad…"
Harry looked back at Billy who only smiled, his eyes watering.
"See Harry? We are mourning. In our own way. We don't mourn his death Harry. We celebrate his life. My dad told me if less than half the pub was drunk then we failed him. He'd want us to be happy and drunk because that's what his life was about…..well more drunk than anything but you get the idea."
Slowly Harry nodded and left the table walking outside leaving Donny to his friends.
The moon held itself high in the clear sky. And in the sky he could see a certain star. His Godfather's star, Sirius the Dog star. It blinked blue and white against the black velvet of night, beckoning Harry to remember. Which he did.
He remembered the few times they shared. From their first to their last. Their love for one another, their connection, their devotion, and their friendship. Harry recalled the pensieve and how he looked with his father as they tortured his now Potions master. With his father, they were the fun loving pranksters of the school. He knew they earned their namesake as Marauders. He wouldn't want Harry to be sad about him. He didn't fall through the veil so he could be depressed about it whenever he thought about him.
"He'd want me to celebrate his life…" And Billy's words rang truth in their harmony, which painful to hear at first was now the opus he needed to hear. And with that realization Harry felt a burden lift from his shoulders, or more so, something build him up to carry that burden. The memory of his godfather no longer weighed him down, but lifted him up.
Harry walked over to Lily and stroked her neck.
"I'll never forget Sirius Black. He was my Godfather you know. I'll tell you about this time….."
***