Disclaimer: I own nothing; it all belongs to J.K.Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters to play with for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER FOUR – Belonging
"Harry, where are we?" Dobby asked.
"We're on an island that wizards do not believe exists anymore."
"I can feel the magic in the air. This is even stronger than it feels at Hogwarts."
"I'm not surprised. I only spotted it from Fawkes memories and recognized it for what it is. Fawkes may not even realize what this place is. Just large groups of phoenixes sometimes meet up here."
"You said you recognized this place for what it is. So what is it?"
"You are familiar with the tales of Atlantis? And its destruction and subsequent sinking into the ocean?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Well it appears that there's been some seismic activity or earthquakes, or perhaps Magic herself was exerting some will, because it's not at the bottom of the ocean anymore."
"This is Atlantis! That's why it feels so magical! There were real elves that lived here."
"Yeah. I thought we could work on putting together a nice island sanctuary here, and provide a safe haven to creatures and species chastised and enslaved."
"House elves won't want to come here."
"Ah Dobby, we're two of a kind. Neither of us fit the mold of our races. But you need to look at it like I do. I may not have faith in humanity as a whole, but I won't condemn each and every individual human. Just like you shouldn't presume there are no other house elves like yourself who want and enjoy freedom."
"Harry Potter is wise and a good friend to Dobby." Dobby said before catching himself. "And Dobby still needs work on his speaking."
"You're doing great Dobby. Don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe Harry Potter just needs to speak more like Dobby does." Harry responded with a smile.
"Which way Harry?"
Harry pointed and said "That direction. Let's see if there's anything much in the ruins, as it will be easiest to build our home there. And it will be pretty cool rebuilding Atlantis."
The pair trekked through some dense foliage seeing very little life. They found a few crups, flobberworms, and such, but nothing surprising. They noticed a significant building in the distance and hurried their approach.
"Those don't look like ruins, Harry."
"No they don't. I think someone has been here since Atlantis fell. I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps Merlin really did have an Avalon of his own."
It was an impressive structure. Somewhere between a castle and library, there were four smaller towers at each corner and a much taller central tower. It appeared to have been abandoned for a while, but would be easily repairable. Depending on the enchantments put onto the place, it may be as simple as refreshing the wards to get her to clean herself back up.
Before they could enter the imposing front doors, Harry put a hand on Dobby and moved him behind him. "Stay behind me Dobby." Harry's eyes were moving back and forth across the tree line and their surroundings seeing nothing, but sensing that they were being watched.
"Who goes there? I am Harry Potter and I mean you no harm."
Slowly, Harry began noticing a seeing of eyes in the shadows. They seemed to be glowing red, and Harry felt these beings were more curious than angry. A low growling could be heard and an enormous male griffin emerged from directly in front of Harry and Dobby. He was over 2 meters long and had a massive pair of wings that were up and alert but not extended. He slowly approached Harry with a fierce glint in his eyes. Harry took a step forward holding his hands out showing he was not an enemy. He knew how proud griffins were and he willingly bowed his head. The griffin stopped pacing back in forth in front of Harry and paused to look him in the eye measuring him. Harry had an idea and hoped he was right about the connections between creatures of the light. He smiled at the griffin, popped into his phoenix form and sang a loud pleasing trill hoping to appease the griffins. Many of the griffins still back in the forest all seemed to stop growling. Harry stopped and hovered in front of the griffin that had approached him.
"What are you Harry Potter? And how did you get here?" Harry heard in his phoenix head. Harry remained hovering in front of the griffin, immensely pleased that the griffin was able to communicate. He tried to send back, "I am a wizard, but I befriended and traded gifts with a phoenix who I now consider my brother. It was in his mind, that I saw this place and recognized it as the lost island of Atlantis."
Harry was relieved to see the griffin understood. "I can sense you are a wizard but you are not like any other wizard I've heard of. How is it that you can trade gifts with a phoenix?"
"It is a magic based on a willingness to accept another as family. And to love and protect each other as such. I do not understand it all myself, but I just felt it when I was near Fawkes, that's the name of my phoenix brother. Tell me, do you feel a connection with me? Because I have never seen a griffin before you but I feel like you could be my brother too."
"You are correct, Harry Potter. It is the will of magic that seems to have guided us together. I too feel something within you. I am not a creature who trusts easily, but the magic within me says to listen to what you have to say."
"Would you like to be my brother?"
"Yes, I would."
Dobby was getting a bit nervous, but knew he could trust Harry. With a pop, the phoenix turned back into Harry, and he approached the large griffin. Harry put his hands on both sides of the griffin's head and the two stared deep into each other's eyes. With a swirl of magic they both lent forward and pressed their heads together. Back in the forest the griffins were getting a bit restless but had overheard the conversation and were not sure what to make of what was going on.
Harry smiled and said quietly "Archimedes." The griffin took a step back and his eagle body parts began melting and transforming away. He was turning into a part-human with a body of a lion. Archimedes was staring at his hands and flexing his fingers. He seemed fascinated and was poking his soft fleshy body in his chest and stomach where his body melted into lions flank and front legs. Harry smiled and laughed. "My brother, you look like what would happen if a centaur and an ugly sphinx mated."
A few other griffins took great offense to this remark and jumped out growling at Harry. Archimedes shifted back to his normal appearance and ordered them to be quiet. "Settle down. My brother meant no offense by his remark." Archimedes turned and smirked at Harry, "besides he just doesn't know beauty when he sees it." The griffins didn't look completely appeased by this but they were not going to harm Harry or Dobby for now. "So come on, Harry, show these guys what you have got and we'll make introductions."
Harry responded by jumping in the air and shifting with a loud crack into a black griffin every bit as large as Archimedes. He leant back, rose up on his hind legs, and let out a loud screech that seemed to shift into a roar of triumph. Harry could see all of the griffins had respect for him now.
Noticing Dobby's nervousness, he quickly popped back into his human form and walked over to his friend. "Dobby, I would like you to meet Archimedes, my new brother. Archimedes, this is my good friend Dobby." Dobby bowed and still blushed whenever Harry introduced him.
Archimedes shifted into his part human and said "Hello and welcome Dobby. Harry, if you don't mind translating for Dobby, allow me to introduce you to my friends." He shifted back to his normal griffin appearance and introduced his new brother Harry, and Harry's friend Dobby. There were over two dozen griffins there and Dobby and Harry politely bowed to each one. Harry was extremely pleased to have found another brother and to have made friends on the island he hoped would be their home.
The rest of the griffins took back off into separate parts of the forest leaving Harry, Dobby and Archimedes to discuss things about the island and its history. According to the griffins, Merlin had been here and built the large manor as a study and home. They had assumed the secret of their location was lost to wizards forever and hadn't had any visitors aside from phoenixes in over a millennium. Harry had shared his hopes of turning this island into a sanctuary for all magical creatures, particularly those most in danger from the wizarding world's war.
Archimedes informed him that the griffins knew some changes were coming and while some might be a bit selfish and not want to share, even the most reluctant would accept this. Opening your home to those in need and being respectful of others was a goal no one would oppose. Asking for help to defend someone else's home was not a battle they wished to be involved in but in terms of providing a safe haven and promoting tolerance quite a few griffins would be willing to assist in any way they could.
Harry explained his idea about creating some portals in places so that creatures could come to the island sanctuary. Archimedes offered to help stand guard at the end here on the island and to welcome and explain things to creatures coming here. Harry was quite proud of his new brother. Though he felt there was some higher power sort of controlling what he was doing, as there had been too many coincidences and easy solutions presenting themselves at opportune times, Harry seemed not to mind at all. It felt like his brothers and what he was now doing was what he was born to do.
Dobby decided the best thing he could do, would be to start cleaning up the place. It was what he knew best and enjoyed doing, so Harry encouraged him to, and said they would meet up for dinner and report their findings then. Harry and Archimedes began exploring the castle and discussing ideas for the future. The island was plenty big enough for a large number of different species and creatures including those that were natural enemies to each other. Feedings and hunting between predators and prey were natural but death for sport or intolerance of others would be met with at least banishment from the sanctuary or perhaps eye for an eye response if the case merited that.
Talking with Archimedes got Harry thinking more and more about his feelings towards wizards and naturally some wizards and witches in particular. He really didn't care if he saw them ever again. If he did, it wouldn't bother him horribly, but if he didn't he wouldn't give them a second's thought. The simplest understanding he had reached was in its most basic form, every moment in his life lately, given the choice between solitude and the presence of another human, he would prefer solitude. It wasn't worth opening yourself up to pain and betrayal when there's no reason he should have to. He wasn't going to say things like never, but he couldn't imagine in the foreseeable future preferring the company of someone over solitude, or the company of his magical brethren.
Archimedes alerted Harry he found a room he thought Harry would be interested in. Oh man was his brother right. There was a huge library that seemed completely layered and covered in protection charms. Harry could only gasp at the potential of this. This was Merlin's library. He may have even left some of his own journals around here. Scrolls and parchments filled a wall ten feet high. Quite a few bound volumes and books, more so than Harry would have expected, filled a few shelves. This was a complete goldmine of ancient information. No doubt Merlin had some relics from Atlantis recovered and protected here too.
Harry's musings were interrupted by the appearance of an extremely exhausted familiar looking owl. "Hedwig! Oh my god! I thought I'd never see you again. And you made the flight here, goodness girl you got some strength in those wings still."
Hedwig nodded and hooted happily landed on Harry's shoulder and just fell against his face hugging him with her wings. Harry began chuckling when he realized she had fallen asleep almost immediately pressed up against him. He carefully lifted her off his shoulder and carried her like a baby. Harry was overjoyed to see his first present ever and only friend over summers was alive and healthy. But Harry wasn't too sure how he felt about the letter attached to her leg.
