Chapter 12

Summary: Harry gets even.

Notes: Ok so a lot happened this past week, but the crown on the cake is that I had to sign a written warning for…wait for it…chatting with my students about random things like interesting science and facts of the world (even though they are practically in the last week's work already), being on my phone (even though I have been ordered to help students that work from home), and "having too many interactions" with my own daughter that amounted to no more than merely hugging her whenever we see each other because we have such a tight mother-daughter bond. When I gave plausible reasons for everything they threw at me, the boss merely said, "Oh, well you have to take credit for at least one of the things."

So, initially, I was going to post the poem I wrote in frustration here, but we had karate grading today and my Shihan's old students revealed how much he actually does for kids who cannot afford food, transportation, etc. He even tells those kids to come train and said that he would sponsor them because it would build a better life for them instead of having them ending up in the streets and resorting to drugs to escape and then resorting to theft to fuel their addictions (which is quite bad where we stay, unfortunately), and I decided that I want to be a part of that. So I was thinking of ways to set up an account or sponsor program for these kids so that they can receive their own karate gi's, train, and one day travel to Japan and those places when they hit internationals. Do any of you know how a person could do this based on a donation-only stance that is tied to an organization instead of a person?

Harry

His answer seemed to irritate the two men more than anything else, which left him confused until Sean stepped forward, but just barely seemed to restrain himself from gripping Harry's shirt again. Harry's eyes widened as he saw how Sean turned his head and fisted his hands at his sides as if he were restraining himself.

For a moment, he wondered whether the man was actually going to hit him, but then he remembered the earlier tension in the man, tension that had nothing to do with the situation at the time, now that he thought of it…his mind didn't make it any further as Sean sighed and swore before he seemed to give into whatever frustration he was feeling, but instead of the hit that Harry expected as he closed his eyes on instinct, he found himself pressed against the nearest wall inside his apartment, and Sean was kissing him as if his life depended on it before he pulled back and glared at him, "Don't do something stupid like that ever again! If my, so-called, brother had harmed you, we would have…well, I would have…"

Three thoughts fired through Harry's brain at the same time. The first was that he really wanted Sean to kiss him again, but then he thought of what Sean had said previously and he decided that he really wasn't going to allow the man to think that he can just do whatever he wanted. He sent a glance to the subject of his third thought before he pressed a hand to Sean's chest…and pushed.

The man's body immediately collapsed and Harry absentmindedly cast a slight cushioning charm before his head hit the floor. One concussion was enough for the night.

He was surprised when Nick only twitched slightly instead of coming to Sean's rescue, though the man didn't stay passive for long as his eyes widened and he took a step back while pointing to…no…over Sean's body, his mouth moving to form words that refused to come out.

Harry glanced to the side, knowing what he would see, and yet, it was still pretty much an otherworldy experience to watch a soul hovering over their own body in shock.

Sean looked at him with wide eyes before he looked down at his body, but the anguished anger in his eyes brought Harry's revenge to a screeching halt as he realized that neither of the men knew the extent of his abilities, or that Sean wasn't truly dead at the moment. A flash of Severus dangling by his ankles sent a strong wave of self-disgust through him and he immediately released the magic and whispered a quiet "sorry" before turning around and blindly walking toward the dueling room.

He was suddenly reminded why it had been so easy for Eric's men to sneak up on him. He had barely slept since the night that the comments about the ritual sent his mind spiraling back into unwanted memories. Memories that he knew he had to face, but he doubted whether he would even fully have the courage to do so.

Harry forced himself to clear his mind as he conjured up a few dummies, but in his current state even the plain, wooden dummies reminded him of the people that had betrayed him. A sound at the door had him turning around, only to see Nick and Sean standing there.

To his surprise though, neither of the men wore the expressions that he'd once seen on his betrayers' faces after they learned what he could do, even after what he just did to Sean. Instead, he only saw worry reflected over their faces…worry for him, not because of him…and for once his chest lightened enough so that he could just…breathe.

Nick

Nick's body started moving the moment he saw the tension disappear from Harry's body and he was only vaguely aware of Sean moving as well as he reached out to grab hold of Harry before he fully collapsed.

Sean seemed to be a bit more hesitant, though he couldn't blame him after…well whatever the hell just happened in the other room. He tried not to think of how it felt to have Harry in his arms, seeing as Sean had already staked his claim with a kiss, but it wasn't something that he could dwell on for long because Harry started laughing.

Not that there was anything wrong with laughter, but the slight hysterical tinge to it didn't seem normal. He said nothing though and decided to simply wait until Harry got himself under control again. Which didn't take long at all, but the green gaze that fastened onto his own once Harry calmed down, took his words, and the smile that came with it, took his breath.

Then Harry noticed Sean, and his expression dimmed slightly, but it was only for a second before it brightened once more, "You aren't afraid."

Nick was puzzled when Harry phrased it as a statement instead of a question, "Why would we be? Strange things happen to us all the time."

His words earned him a relieved smile before Harry turned to Sean and Nick sent him 'the look' over Harry's head. He didn't exactly know what was going on, but the puzzle pieces that made up Harry Potter were slowly falling into place, even though it was slower than what he would've wanted it to be.

Sean looked at Harry, "I'm not going to lie, I believe that was the most afraid I've ever been, to date, but I also should have known better than to simply..eh..kiss you like that."

Sean's words received a wry smile from Harry before he seemed to shake off whatever thoughts were plaguing him and he released himself from Nick's arms, his cheeks turning pink when he finally realized that Nick had been holding him up this whole time.

He looked at Sean, and then Nick, "I should be the one apologizing, I don't usually act on a whim like that…at least…not anymore. I could make an excuse and say that this whole thing just has me on edge, but, for now, I will only say that I may be a little more screwed up mentally than I first thought."

Nick found his stern look mirrored by Sean as he narrowed his eyes, "Even if that is the case, putting yourself down like that isn't helping. I am sure Sean's been through much worse than that and I can guarantee that being a ghost for a few minutes doesn't come close to having your eyes blinded and then having to ingest a humanoid fly's eye after it was made into an antidote."

It seemed Harry couldn't help but laugh at that, "We'll I guess it's a good thing you would never meet Severus then, his ingredients would give you the creeps…"

Nick could tell immediately when Harry grew quiet, that it was a sore subject, so he steered Harry away from it. "I know that it is late, but, is there something you want to know about us? I know we spoke at Monroe's but…"

His words didn't go any further as he frantically started searching for his phone.

Sean

He watched confused as he saw how Nick searched for his phone, but then he realized that they had been on a rescue mission due to a very frantic call, and the one who made the call was probably freaking out terribly by now.

He shuddered as he remembered Rosalee. For a Fuchsbau she was ruthless and downright protective of those she cared about, and Harry fell under that category. He also started searching for his phone, only to hear a loud sound echo through the room.

He looked around to try and find the source but found that it was his phone, ringing as if it could convey the urgency that the caller was feeling. Once he picked it up, he looked at Nick with wide eyes as he saw that the caller-ID read Rosalee, but Nick abruptly shook his hands, and Sean resigned himself to fate, "Hello?"

"Thank goodness! I have been trying to reach one of you for hours! What happened? Did you find Harry? Are all of you alright?" The string of questions continued non-stop until Harry finally motioned for him to give him the phone and Sean couldn't do so soon enough.

He threw a glare as Nick coughed to try and cover up his laugh, but there wasn't really any heat in it.

"…and yes we'll be there in a bit…I told you I am fine…what? No, I…! Fine, see you guys in a bit." Harry shook his head as he handed over the phone but there was a look of fond amusement on his face, "It seems the day isn't at an end just yet. Rosalee wants us to come over and I guess I still owe all of you an explanation."

Sean nodded and turned to walk towards the door but a hand on his arm stopped him and he turned to find Harry looking slightly nervous, "There is a faster way to get there, though it isn't very comfortable, and its probably going to scare Rosalee and Monroe to death."

Sean didn't have to be told twice, but he instantly regretted it when it felt like something was trying to cram his body into a soda can before tossing him back out again. He glanced to the side and found that Nick wasn't faring any better, and he fought against the need to throw up as he looked at Harry, "How in blazes name do you get used to that?!"

Harry only smiled in response.

The sound of a glass shattering got their attention and they turned to find a fully wolfed-out Monroe standing in from of Rosalee, a shattered beer bottle at their feet.

Harry grimaced uncomfortably and with a wave of his hand, he vanished the mess.

Rosalee gave him one look, crossed her arms, and raised a brow, "Explanation…now!"