H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 30
Roughing It
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I believe that some father and son bonding is in order, so what better way than a weekend camping trip...five days before school is to start.
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(5am sharp the next morning)
Harry stumbled down the steps and into the family Common Room. "I swear that I'm gonna sleep in the two days before term starts."
"I know what you mean." Draco was barely awake.
"Morning boys," James was wide-awake and in a sickeningly good mood. "Are we ready to take on the wilds of Scotland?"
"Give me coffee or someone is gonna die." Draco grumbled.
"I have something better than that guaranteed to wake you two up in an instant." He handed them two steaming mugs of Marauder tea.
Harry was still asleep, so he stupidly took a large sip of the special blend of tea and fire whisky.
"Does...(gasp)...mum...(cough)...know that you...(choke) are giving us this." Harry was awake, but his throat was on fire.
Draco thinking that it was some blend of coffee took an even larger gulp of the hot brew. "Bloody hell this has fire whisky in it!" He croaked.
"It's Padfoot's special recipe, guaranteed to keep the body warm, and the drinker awake. So drink up boys." James took a healthy swallow out of his own mug. "Now as for your mother, what she doesn't know won't hurt her. You're under Marauders code now boys. What happens on our adventure stays between us, the women need not know."
"What time is it?" Ron stumbled down the stairs missing the last four and landing on his butt. "Ouch that's gonna leave a bruise."
"Here you go Ron have some tea." James handed him a mug.
Ron sniffed at the contents in the mug. "What's in it?"
"Just a little pick-me-up for the trip, no harm no foul." Harry took a sip of his own tea and managed to swallow it without coughing. "See nothing to it's safe."
"In that case bottoms up," Ron gulped down half the mug and his eyes all but rolled up into the back of his head. He coughed and gagged for a full minute before being able to speak again. "This has fire whiskey in it!" He croaked.
"Yeah, it does there's nothing like a little kick to get the blood pumping in the morning!" James finished his tea and set it down on the coffee table.
"So where in Scotland are we going?" Harry managed to finish his tea.
"I thought that we might camp out by Loch Ness." James was going through their supplies.
"What kind of tent are we going to be in?" Draco set his empty mug down on the table.
"We're camping on land that's been in our family for centuries, so there won't be any Muggle interference. It's where dad likes to send the Auror trainees for their survival training." James grinned. "We'll be able to fish for our dinner and hike around for miles."
"I haven't been camping in years. This will be a good experience for you boys." Arthur had a mug in his hands and was dressed all-out in wilderness gear.
"I told you this was gonna be boot camp." Harry took in Arthur's appearance and wasn't pleased.
He looked ready for anything they might come across, in his khaki Muggle like gear, complete with a vest with Muggle fishing lures on it, and a matching hat. "I hear that this is the in thing with Muggles when they camp."
"You mean that we're actually going to catch our meal with a fishing pole or something?" Draco had never fished in his life. "We're gonna starve. I just know it and the bugs there are gonna eat us alive!" Draco was beginning to show a little of his old-self, but it was because of the lack of sleep.
"That's the idea. It's gonna be great and you three are gonna love it!" James was dressed in heavy Khaki pants, a heavy fisherman's sweater, and hiking boots. "You boys need to go change into something like I'm wearing and then pack warm clothes."
The three of them were in jeans and t-shirts.
"And Draco you're not gonna starve, but the insect thing I can't count that out, nor can I count out that you may or may not get poison ivy or poison oak. That's what roughing is all about. We're men we can handle it. Right boys? Now move out!"
"Yeah, ok, ok we're going." Harry, Draco, and Ron turned and headed up the steps.
"Jackets wouldn't be that bad of an idea either." He called after them.
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Harry grumbled. "I'm starving. We had better get to eat breakfast before we go."
"You'll get fed Junior, now move your ass, or I might change my mind and just wait until we get there." James was standing at the foot of the steps.
The three of them wasted no time going up to their rooms.
"Works every time," James grinned.
"They all set to rough it like men?" Sirius walked in dressed and packed to go camping.
"You don't have to go Padfoot." James handed him a mug of tea.
"What and miss being part of Draco's initiation into roughing it? Not a chance I'm going." He took a healthy sip of tea. "Now that's more like it man's tea. It's just what you need to get started at the crack of dawn. So Prongs, how's our smart ass this morning?"
"Not happy, but his head seems to be fine now. He managed to drink a full mug of tea. He thinks that he's gonna be in camping hell." James chuckled.
"Let him think what he wants. He's at our mercy for the next two days." Sirius grinned. "Hey Arthur, you look prepared to take on the world in that getup."
"It's a camper's survival gear special. Bought it on a whim at a Muggle wilderness store." Arthur grinned.
--
Harry stripped down to his shorts and stalked into his bathroom. "I just know that dad is up to something." He got out a large backpack and stuffed it with clothes, his domestic wand, and other previsions like his fathers journal. All the things that he would need to create his own Marauders map. He also put in three invisibility cloaks that his father had no clue he owned.
"I feel that it's about time dad learned a lesson. If he wants to call me his minime, well then he's gonna get just that." He chose the same sweater, pants, and hiking boots that his father was wearing. It looked as if Franc had given them similar style wardrobes and Beau had styled his dad's hair similar to his own style. He placed the hazel tinted contacts in his eyes, too his shock, he was staring at the image of his father. The scar was now just barely visible to the naked eye and one would have to be staring him in the eye to see it.
Hermione had come looking for him, so they could have time to say good-bye, "You should bring your specs just in case and warm clothes." She didn't want him to go.
Harry turned to grin at his angel. "I'm all packed and ready to go, but I can't leave until my angel kisses me good-bye." He opened his arms and she flew into them. "I am so gonna miss you. I love you so much." He hugged her fiercely.
Hermione reveled in the embrace. "I don't want you to go. I love you so much it hurts." She whimpered. "I'll be lost with missing you so much." She looked up into his eyes and did a double-take. "You're wearing your tinted contacts. Are you that angry with your father?"
"He calls me junior. Well now he gets more than he bargained for. The one thing that I did do with the Dursley's was camp. They had a cabin and I had a tent, so I know how to rough it. He thinks that I'm gonna be off guard, well, we will see who's Mr. Survival after this weekend." He had that wicked pirate gleam in his eyes again. "Now kiss me I'm going off to war." He picked her up in his arms and kissed her.
Hermione was set back down on her feet several minutes later. "Don't see this as war or a competition. See this as a time to get to know your dad. Promise me that you are going to give this a chance before declaring all-out war on them."
"I promise that I will give this a chance, but if he goes off on how great he is at survival situations then it's on." Harry kissed her again, "See you Sunday night if they let us come back that evening." He headed out of his room with the backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Behave!" Hermione dogged his steps.
"This feels familiar." Harry continued down the hallway. "Yes I love you too."
"I mean it behave yourself!" She growled by his ear. "Oh, yes I love you more."
"I will behave myself as long as dad does." Harry turned to look down at her.
"You know what I always say..." Hermione found herself kissed senseless.
"I know angel, ignore him." He set her back down and headed down the stairs.
"I love you and just ignore him!"
"My life is now complete!" Harry turned and blew her a kiss.
Hermione stood at the top of the steps. "Um, I don't have my crutches." She sniffled.
Harry walked down to the second landing and set his pack down. "You hopped up the steps and didn't have a plan to get down?" He took the steps two at a time, scooped her up, and carried her down to her level. "Ok now which room is yours?" He walked down the hallway.
"It's the last one, which makes it directly under your room." She smothered a giggle, when she heard his heart skip a beat, and then start beating faster. "I have a great view and a walk out terrace that has stairs that lead hmm right up to your room."
Harry walked through the open doorway of her room. "Thanks that's definitely need-to-know information. Now try to spend as much of my Dad's money as possible." He tucked her back in, kissed her on the nose, and headed out of the room. "I love you too and yes I will try to ignore him!" He beat her to the final word closing the door just as she threw something at it.
--
"Now to take on my dad," He headed to the stairs picked up the pack and jogged down to the Common Room.
"It's about..." James was about to growl at him, but then took in Harry's chosen look. :Frickin hell! Why you little piss ant.: James stared nearly eye to eye with the identical image of himself.
"Junior Pendragon reporting for boot camp as ordered, sir!" He went as far as to salute him. :You haven't seen anything yet dad.:
"Oh Prongs, has he got you this time!" Sirius hooted with laughter. "I can't tell who is who."
"Harry is the one with the scar." Draco walked up to him, but could barely distinguish who was who. "The scar is still there isn't it?"
"It's there, but now you need to be within an inch of my head to see it." Harry had that wicked look in his eyes.
"Oh, I know that look. It's your I've been challenged and I'm gonna kick ass look." Ron smirked.
"I heard Hermione giving you the lecture on the stairs, so I know that you're up to something." Draco grinned.
"Oh, you mean the whole ignore him and behave lecture?" Ron's eyes danced with mischief. "He never listens to it, but it's not an adventure for him without her taunting him to behave."
Harry walked over to a table that had breakfast on it. "Am I the only one who hasn't eaten?" He acted surprised.
"We've been down here for twenty minutes." Ron arched a brow at him. "While you were packing or should I say snogging with Hermione."
"I would watch what I say if I were you. Mister I got to have cookies." Harry fingered his wand.
"Oh yeah, there is that isn't there." Ron flushed a little and gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry my bad."
Harry went back to eating his breakfast.
"Yeah, you're one to talk mister share dreams with Hermione. I can just imagine what the dreams would be, so as far as I'm concerned I'm the only one missing out here." Draco grumbled.
"You share dreams with Hermione?" Ron's jaw dropped.
"So that's what Wills was grumbling about all weekend." Sirius grinned. "Looks like he one-upped you again, eh, Prongs?"
"I valued my life. Therefore, dream-walking was not in the cards when Lil's and I were dating." James smirked.
"Damn right it wasn't. Everyone all packed and ready to go?" Lily glided down the stairs wearing one of James pajama shirts and a pair of his shorts. She looked in no uncertain terms what people would categorize as Hot.
Harry turned to look at his mom and he choked on a piece of toast. "WOW mum you look..."
"The word is Hot your mother is a knock out." Draco whistled.
"WOW my mum don't look like that in the morning." Ron's mouth hung open.
"I heard that Ronald Weasley!" Molly appeared on the steps.
"I'm gonna miss you, Mum!" Ron ran up the stairs to hug her.
"Thanks boys." She gave them each a kiss on the cheek. "You're sweet."
"Prongs is so in the doghouse." Sirius saw the signs.
She walked passed James without so much as a hello or a kiss.
"She thinks that he needs to rest, even though he's fine now. She wants to coddle him and I think otherwise." James growled.
"You and the boy are so much alike that this is going to be an interesting two days." Arthur grinned.
"I hope he kicks my brother's sorry butt." Jenn breezed into the room in a brilliant red kimono. "Take care handsome." She wrapped her arms around Sirius' neck and kissed him. "We love you." She whispered for his ears only after letting him go.
Sirius went from being smug to a shade of green in seconds. "You brat you know what happens when you say that!" He raced upstairs for the nearest bathroom.
"I'm not happy with you either!" Jenn shouted up the stairs and then left.
"What just happened?" Draco frowned.
"It's simple. He's sharing in my condition, all I have to do is say we in anything, and off he goes to lose his lunch." She smiled sweetly. "I haven't had any miserable mornings, but he seems to be living on crackers."
Lily was checking on her baby boy. "This is a new look for you. What's wrong didn't like my eyes or are you out to kick your father's tail end?" She looked him in the eyes.
"I wanted to wear contacts and these were my only pair that weren't soaking in solution, besides now he has the minime that he has always wanted." He gave her a hug.
"Oh dear, your father is doomed isn't he." Lily smothered a laugh.
"I promise the twins will still have a father on Monday."
"Just remember to pack lots of crackers for the two daddies-to-be." Lily kissed him on the cheek and walked over to James. "One scratch, one bruise, one break, on either Draco or Harry and you will never father children again. You got me flyboy?" She glared up into his eyes.
"I'm hurt that you think that way of me, Evans." James was actually breaking out in a cold sweat considering how easily Harry managed to get himself into scrapes.
"I meant every last word, Potter." Lily growled.
"But isn't that a little extreme? They're bound to get a scratch or a bruise while camping or when we go hiking in the hills." James tried to negotiate a deal.
"I don't mean little cuts you moron! I mean like they had with the spiders!!" Lily poked him hard in the chest. "This is your little party for now, but if I sense that he's in pain in any way, I will come and join you to kick your sorry ass."
"Knock it off Lily. You know that I hate that!" James growled.
"I don't give a tinker's damn what you hate! He is still recovering from that head injury, yet still you insist that you go on this male bonding ritual. Where you will no doubt introduce my boys to all the things that you know I wouldn't approve of! No alcohol James! I already know you had the tea!" She pushed him hard in the chest, this time sending him backwards against the wall. "He has a very different metabolism than most teenagers his age and he might have an adverse reaction to drinking alcohol!!" She grabbed him by the sweater. "AM I CLEAR POTTER!?"
James response to that was to reach behind her neck, pull them closer, and then crush his mouth down against her own. :Red you're so hot when you're all protective of our cub and I would love to continue this upstairs in private, but its gonna have to wait until we get back.:
Sirius descended the steps. "That's one way for him to try to get out of the doghouse, but watch carefully boys it ain't gonna work. Hey, kid it looks like Lily adopted you into the fold." He winked at Draco.
"I don't mind. She's an awesome mum." Draco was honored that she saw him as a son.
"Take notes Harry this is like watching you and Hermione in the future." Draco smirked.
"He does have a point Harry." Ron agreed.
"Oh, just shut it will you." Harry grumbled in response.
"Oh yeah, welcome to the family little brother." He managed a grin.
:I'm worried about our son damn it! You always do this and it's not fair! You have to take this and me seriously!: She gave into the kiss.
:Our cub will be safe and sound. He's never really spent much one-on-one time with any male who wasn't his age, besides Remus. He needs to know that I'm here to stay. It's like he's battling that one-year-old little boy inside him that still thinks we're going to leave him again. He needs to at least try to kick my ass to get this out of his system. We're talking completely telling me off without having to worry about you overhearing anything, that he shouts at me. Let me be the Healer this round.: James came clean with his reasoning for this camping trip.
:Keep these things in mind. One don't hurt each other too badly. Two he needs to study up on his Head Boy duties on Monday and Tuesday. Three he has a train to catch on Wednesday. Lastly, don't underestimate your son he's plotting just as much as you are. Those contacts weren't just for annoying you.: Lily tried to give him some ground rules.
:I know what he's up to, but this trip isn't about the two of us competing against each other. The three of them are gonna have to find camp alone, set up their own tent, and find their own food as in go fishing. While Arthur, Sirius, and I lounge around a campfire and drink ale. I set up ours earlier this morning when I was testing the portkey.: James savored kissing her and holding her, committing that feeling to memory for those two long endless days away from her, then let her go.
:Ok brace yourself Tiger. I have to make this look good since Harry is watching our every move.: Lily still had that fiery I'm-going-to-kick-your-ass look in her eyes. :Just remember this was your stupid plan, that this is out of endless love, and the next time you pull this testosterone males only tripe how does Harry say it...Oh, yes no cookies for a month.:
:Red, I know that you love our adventures, but this is nothing against your gender, the boy needs this. I love you and man is this gonna hurt.: James braced himself for what was coming.
"Here it comes. I believe Hermione likes to do the same thing." Sirius grinned.
Lily right crossed James across the jaw then laid into him. "Don't you dare go all Casanova on me!! You mark my words James Harry Steven Arthur Michael Potter-Pendragon! If any of those things happen you will find yourself gelded!! Might I remind you three men that Harry and Draco are also very much wolves now, so don't lose our boys out in the wilderness!!" Lily turned to go focus her energy on the boys. "Sorry about that, but it's my duty to watch out for the two of you." She gave Draco a hug and kissed his cheek. "Your mine now is that okay with you?"
Draco hugged her back. "I never really have had a mum and would be honored to have you think of me as your son."
"Hey Padfoot, looks like we're adopting your nephew, but then she's always sort of seen him as hers whenever you brought him to play with Harry. It looks like she intends to make it official this time though." James rubbed his sore jaw.
"I think that's a smashing idea. He needs a mother's guidance, which is something that Narcissa never even tried to show him." Sirius grinned.
"He needs to know that he is loved and not used as window dressing for once in his life. You're damn right, we should adopt him." Lily liked that idea.
"Hey, I have an idea let's go and take care of that today and forget about this stupid camping trip." Harry saw a way out and took it.
"No that isn't necessary, I can take care of that without any need to interrupt your father son's time, you boys go and bond." Stephen was standing on the stairs.
Lily kissed and hugged Harry good-bye. "Have a good time." With that said she went to join Stephen on the steps. "Thanks Dad." She kissed his cheek.
"You boys be careful." Molly kissed the three of them on the cheeks.
"They'll be fine Molly; you enjoy your shopping with the girls." Arthur hugged and kissed her good-bye.
James set a cooking pot down next to the gear. "Ok boys grab one of the bags of gear and then touch the pot." The three of them did as they were told and they found themselves loaded down with two packs each.
"Dad where's your gear?" Harry noticed the three of them only had one pack.
"Don't worry about it kid just touch the pot." James tried to keep his mind blank.
--
"Fine, but now I know that you're up to something." Harry did as he was told and with a jerking sensation at his navel he found himself whisked away to a country meadow.
Then Ron, Draco, and his Dad soon appeared beside him.
"Gods I hate that." Ron shook his head to ward off the dizziness that always occurred when using a portkey.
"Where are we?" Draco looked around at their surroundings. "It looks like the middle of bloomin nowhere!"
"Ok boys here's a map, compass, some survival rations, and three canteens of water." James handed Harry the map and compass, handed Draco the food, and Ron was given the water. "I'll take Harry's gear. He's still suffering from a head injury and I don't wish to end up neutered."
"Why are you the only one here and where did our uncles go?" Harry narrowed his eyes at his father.
"They Apparated to camp. The three of you have to make your way there on foot using that map and compass to guide you. You seem to think that you can survive on your own, well, here's your chance to prove it to me. Otherwise, I may not sign that parental consent form needed for you and Hermione to get married as scheduled. This means waiting until after September 19th when Hermione turns eighteen." James spoke frankly.
"I knew there was a frickin catch to this trip! Fine challenge accepted!" Harry glared defiantly at his father.
"Here are the rules, no animagus forms, no magic unless it's a signal flare for us to get you or someone is hurt, and you three have five hours to find camp. If the three of you aren't able to find camp we will come get you and you are mine until Hermione turns eighteen. That includes going to live in Sanctuary until after you're married." James mirrored his son's glare. "I believe that I have you in Check the question on if it is Checkmate is up to you."
James disapparated from the meadow.
"We're so doomed." Ron groaned.
"If we don't get there in five hours we will find ourselves AK'd by him, but no we aren't doomed yet." Draco corrected him.
Harry was already scanning the map. "I can do this...I just have to concentrate on my goal marrying Hermione in July."
He took out the compass. "All right guy's camp is north of here." He took off towards the forest.
--
Three hours later
The girls were all enjoying breakfast down in the Great hall and planning their day.
"I guess having a September wedding won't be that bad." Hermione munched on a piece of bacon.
"Are you linked with Harry?" Luna and Ginny stared at her.
Hermione nodded. "He has five hours to find camp using no magic, no animagus form, just a map and compass or we don't get married until my eighteenth birthday. Not only that but he can't live in Sanctuary either."
What Uncle James seems to have forgotten is that I'm seventeen and turn eighteen on my next birthday, but I'm not about to reveal that not yet . I don't know how Harry's going to react to my lying to him over the past six years.
"James wants to show him that even if he gets lost that he will still be there to find him. As for the rest that's just James taking all the lip that Harry has been shoving at him personally." Lily took a sip of tea. "They are on Auror training grounds and camp is only found using magical means, to put it bluntly the boys are going to learn the hard way that they need their elders whether they like it or not."
James is digging a hole so deep that he will never be able to climb out of it. I know that our goddaughter is a year older than Harry, but he seems to have forgotten that little fact. I'll just let this play out the way it's meant. Might as well have Hermione start trying on dresses now if she and Harry are going to be married when she turns eighteen.
"It just doesn't seem fair that he's doomed to fail. He doesn't fail in anything he puts his mind to." Hermione knew that this was good for him, but couldn't help but feel a little bad about the situation.
"Exactly, everyone has to see that it's ok to fail sometimes. He doesn't have to play the perfect hero anymore." Lily smiled.
"That's a lesson that he has never really learned to accept." Hermione finished her breakfast.
"Don't worry after we spend the day shopping, we'll go check on them from our camp, up on a hillside above theirs." Lily reassured her.
"Hermione, can you still howl like a wolf?" Ginny grinned wickedly.
"I only did it to save Harry from Uncle Remus, but its not that difficult." Hermione's eyes widened, as she realized what Ginny was thinking. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"You said Aunt Lily mentioned to Uncle James about Harry being a wolf and not to lose him, so why not make that happen." Ginny's eyes danced with mischief.
"I'll keep that in mind." Lily grinned.
"It serves them right thinking that we're too delicate to go rough it." Jenna growled.
"Yes, it's not nice to single us out." Molly agreed.
"Ok ladies our day of shopping and Molly, Ginny, and Luna's makeovers awaits." Lily looked at her watch to make sure that they were on schedule. "The boys have two hours left, Draco has poison oak, and Ron walked into poison ivy trying to get to raspberries. It's nice to be linked to ones son."
They left to go shopping.
--
One hour left
Draco was out of breath from running from their latest magical creature. "I give up send the bloody flare! I draw the line at being chased by a three-headed Hellhound!"
"I was wondering where Fluffy went." Ron panted.
"Look, I know the doxy nest we walked into wasn't fun, but I did have an antidote in my pocket. I know that our ears are still ringing from coming across the Banshee's, the herd of Hippogriff's made us a little off course, and we came across some forest trolls." Harry was out of breath himself and his head hurt. "The Red caps I'll admit scared the shit out of me and that took another hour off our time, but I still think that we can do this."
"You're in bloomin dreamland! I have a rash from god knows what creeping on my body in places that I don't even want to know! I've been chased by pixies that like to bite and scratch! We had to get Ron down from a tree because the things put him up there! The fairies, which are not dumb or stupid like it says in the book, almost condemned us because Ron ate one of their cakes! Thank the gods you're Merlin and Mab's grandson or we would have been stuck in that tree for eternity!" Draco was at his whit's end.
"I had to get the raspberries for us to eat!" Ron sneered. "Because you went and lost the food when you fell down that hill into Poison Oak!" He scratched at his skin. "All because Harry keeps seeing Uncle Sirius and thinks hey lets follow him to camp! Only we ended up confronting a real pack of wild wolves! I think we managed to survive that because the two of you are animagus wolves or somethin like that! Although that herd of Aethonan horses was an awesome sight that Luna would have killed to see. Good thing Draco has his camera."
Harry had two little creatures perched on either shoulder a snowy colored Puffskein, a golden feathered, and red, jewel-like eyed snidget that had been gifts from his Aunt the fairy princess. "That centaur I talked to said that camp was three miles this way, so if we follow this trail we should find camp in oh say two hours."
"Newsflash genius we have less than one hour left!" Draco scratched at his rash. "There's no way that we can get there and god knows what we stubble onto next!"
"He's right Harry. We tried our best, but without magic it's impossible to find the camp!" Ron scratched at his poison ivy rash.
A low growl sounded behind Harry.
The boys stared at the creature in sheer terror and pointed at it. They were so afraid that they couldn't utter a sound.
Harry turned around to see three very familiar and very unhappy gigantic boarhound heads looking at him like Dinner. "Think...think damn it… a song any will do...blank mind...going to die. Got one it fits to...send flare up first though." Harry barely had time to get his wand and send the flare.
To his delight, Hermione appeared, in a big white fluffy robe in front of him, and started singing to Fluffy.
When she had finished Fluffy was sound asleep at her feet. "Honestly you're hopeless without me." She turned to look at the boys and found herself bear hugged and kissed by Harry.
"Hermione did you Apparate without a license?! You're gonna get more than a letter for that!" Draco was pacing behind them. "That's way worse than that feather ball on Harry's shoulder!"
"Uh, Hermione, why are you wearing a robe?" Ron scowled.
"I was in the..." Hermione couldn't finish her sentence for the cavalry had arrived. "I see that you're in good hands now. I'll take this adorable little puffball. Don't have too much fun." She stepped out of Harry's arms and disapparated in front of James, Sirius, and Arthur.
"That's a three-headed hellhound." James stared at the sleeping Fluffy.
"We know." Draco and Ron were not going within three feet of it.
"That was Hermione in a robe." Sirius ignored the big dog.
"I thought that I was seeing things." Arthur was cleaning off his specs.
"She wasn't wearing much under it either." Harry was in bliss.
The snidget cooed at him.
James walked up to Harry and looked at his shoulder. "That's a snidget."
"Yeah, and that's a three-headed dog what's the big deal." Harry rolled his eyes at him.
"That's the rarest bird in the United Kingdom and it's illegal to have one as a pet." Arthur frowned.
"I was given this as a gift from Princess Celestra of this areas fairy kingdom. I got a puffskein too, but angel took it back with her." Harry was holding the tiny little golden-feathered bird in his palm. "They used this little guy as a snitch?"
"Yes hence the reason they're protected and the price for having one as a pet is a year in Azkaban and a hefty fine." Draco was pacing again.
"You met the actual Fairies, as in our estranged Avalonian omni powerful relatives?" James ignored Draco.
"Ron took one of their cakes sitting by this glowing tree with flowers growing around it, so yes we sort of met the estranged family. I had to do some fast-talking or he would have been stuck in Avalon forever. I'll have you know that they aren't six inches tall, their world is awesome to visit, but I wouldn't want not to be stuck there." Harry explained.
"Not to be a downer or anything, but I don't wish to be here when he wakes up." Ron gulped nervously. "No music means he'll wake up soon."
James conjured a harp and it started to play. "That'll play for an hour; now let's get you boys back to camp. By the looks of it one of my sons has poison oak and Ron has poison ivy, but my oldest why he just looks dirty."
"I'm so happy right now that I don't care that I lost..." Harry was floating he was so happy.
:Savor that moment kid, because you are mine until next September nineteenth.: James pulled him back down to earth.
:I realized two hours ago that I wasn't gonna win, but then Draco needed the experience and I'm just plain pissed at Ron. I have the antidotes for those two rashes in my pocket and when I was about to give them the potions Ron went and got us stuck in Fairyland. Queen Mab is a knock out by the way, told me to call her Grams, because evidently Arthur is her son, talk about a screwed up relationship. Which means we're full-blooded magic folk, but that's between you and me.: Harry followed his father up the trail. : It's funny, but I don't mind losing as much as I thought I would and its good to know that if I'm in trouble you'll be there to get me out of it. Too bad Hermione beat you to it this time.:
:I've been watching you three. Let's just say you really didn't do that badly in the Auror survival grounds. You kept your cool most of the time, unlike Draco and Ron who are bloody cowards. I had no idea that a boy could scream like that. It echoed for miles.: James chuckled.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Draco growled.
"Son, Doxy's and Pixies hate it when you shout or scream around them and yours and Ron's echoed for miles. That's why they attacked and chased you half a mile was it?" James arched a brow at Sirius.
"Yeah, about that," Sirius grinned.
"You mean Harry wasn't seeing things." Ron gaped at them.
"Oh, it was us all right. We had to make sure that you were at least going down the right trail." James grinned. "Oh and uh you passed the camp three times, but only magical means can find it."
Harry, Ron, and Draco all flipped him the universal sign.
--
"Hermione Anne Diana Granger, don't you ever do that again!" Lily snarled at her.
"Fluffy was going to eat the boys..." She calmly petted her new little friend. "I had to do something."
"You were in the dressing room trying on gowns and not wearing hardly anything under that robe!" Molly who looked fifteen years younger glared at her. "Not to mention that you don't have a license to do that!"
"I would say that I just passed the test with flying colors." Hermione smiled sweetly.
"You and Harry had a moment didn't you?" Lily could see the signs.
Hermione had a secret smile on her face. "He was happy to see me yes."
"We were getting all dolled up what happened?" Ginny and Luna who looked at least eighteen walked into the VIP section.
"I borrowed Aunt Lily's wand, so I could go save the boys from Fluffy." Hermione acted like it was an everyday thing. "Oh and I was wearing a robe at the time because I was trying on gowns."
"Hagrid's three headed pet?" Luna sat down in one of the chairs.
"Were you wearing anything under the robe? Did Harry thank you?" Ginny wanted details.
"Ginevra Molly Elizabeth Weasley, I can't believe that you just asked her that!" Molly was shocked at her baby's actions.
"Mummy I'm sixteen these things matter to me." Ginny rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Ginny you and Luna look smashing," Hermione changed the subject.
"So he was thankful." Ginny giggled.
"Ok girls time to head back." Lily took control of the situation. "We should get there before sunset. I hope you didn't get into too much hot water with the ministry or we'll be dodging owls."
"It was a life-or-death decision, so it falls under the emergency use of magic clause." Hermione walked out of the VIP section.
--
Two hours later at the men's campsite
"Come on Dad give me a hint about how this thing is supposed to work!" Harry stalked over to where his father was drinking a beer. "I've been at this for two hours! You put up Draco's and Ron's!"
"Stop whining and focus. You have the tent upright, so now all you need to do is read the instructions carefully for the incantation to activate it." James didn't move from his seat by the fire. "I'd hurry if I were you. You still have to fish for your dinner." He had fish already frying in a pan on the fire.
Harry sat down and read the instructions ten times. "The only thing that makes sense is to point my wand at the tent and say magicus tentus." He had his wand pointed at the tent and blue light shot from it and into the tent. "No way that's so lame, it doesn't even sound right."
"That's the idea in case a Muggle ever got their hands on one." James tossed him a fishing pole and a hamper to carry the fish. "Happy fishing you have a few hours until sunset."
"Gee thanks." Harry headed down the trail.
"Oh and say hi to Nessie for me."
"Yeah whatever,"
--
Harry stopped at the shores of the loch and tried to fish for awhile, but nothing was biting. "That does it I'm so not gonna starve." He focused on the lake, unfortunately he was thinking of the serpent that lived there, and not really of the fish. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He shouted.
Nessie lifted out of the water directly in front of him. She did not look the least bit happy.
"I am so sorry about that. I just need to catch some fish for our dinner." He spoke to her in Parseltounge, as he set her back in the water.
"No harm done, young prince. If fish ye are wishing for, then fish ye shall have." She spoke back to him in the same language then dove under the water.
James was standing behind him in utter disbelief. "So that's Parseltounge."
Nessie appeared near the shore with her open mouth brimming of fish. "Use ye magic and fish will be yea's."
"Thanks very much for your help and as prince let me just say that you and your family will remain safe in your home." He used his wand to lift the fish onto the beach beside him.
"None has been like Merlin, maybe ye is the one." Nessie answered back. "Call on me whenever ye need assistance." She sank back under the murky waters of the Loch.
"Unreal she compared me to Merlin..." He scooped the fish into the hamper.
"I can see why she compared you to Merlin." James sat down on the beach. "You've been talking to animals and creatures all day, but I don't think you realized it."
"You saw the whole thing?" Harry knew how others reacted to him speaking serpent tongue and was surprised by his reaction.
"Oh yeah, I saw the whole thing and might I say that getting Nessie to fish for you is quite a coup." James looked into the hamper which was full of some of the biggest fish that he had ever seen come out of the loc.
"Yeah, well, I wasn't gonna let Draco and Ron starve when not even the potion is curing their rashes." Harry sat down next to his dad.
"Yeah, that Doxy bite kind of affected their rashes." James stared out at the lake. "I didn't leave you on purpose you know. I had a plan and thought it would work like clock work. It went badly because you can't fight fate no matter how much you want to."
"Yeah, I know." Harry heaved a heavy sigh. "I did that all sixth year and it just doesn't work that way does it. I mean this whole fate thing sucks, because I got everything for the first year of my life, and then nothing for the next ten years after that. Then it denied me the memory of that wonderful first year and I ended up fighting to get all of that back."
"I think that after all of that you deserve your first beer." He handed him a frosted bottle of beer.
Harry took the bottle, popped the cap, and took a long swig. "Thanks Dad it's good." He didn't want to hurt his Dad's feelings so he took another drink.
"Nothing like a father and son enjoying a frosted one," James took a swig of his beer.
"Yeah, it's a great bonding experience." Harry finished his bottle and set it down. "So does Guinness or ale taste like that?"
"Harry if you didn't like the beer why in Merlin's name did you drink the whole bottle dry?" James shook his head and chuckled.
"We're bonding and I didn't wanna hurt your feelings." Harry answered honestly.
James conjured a bottle of Ale. "Try this one."
Harry took a swig of Ale and decided that it wasn't the greatest, but it rated better than the beer. "This is better than beer." He took another drink. "I don't love it though." He set the half-empty bottle down. He was beginning to feel strange.
"Ok then try this." James conjured a mug of Guinness. "Might I add that its alcohol free."
Harry was no longer tense or melancholy anymore. "I guess it won't hurt to try it." He took a sip from the mug. "Now that I like," He took another drink.
Sirius came to check on the two of them. "Fire Whiskey laced tea, Beer, Ale, and now Guinness! Are you out of your skull! The boy can barely handle a full swig of fire whiskey!"
"Hi Uncle Snuffles don't worry I'm fine!" Harry downed the rest of the mug and tossed it at James. "See I feel great!"
"Oh, frickin hell James you got the boy wasted! You are so dead! No worse than that I fear that a gelding is in your future!!" Sirius snarled.
"I'm not wasted!" Harry stood up and walked a straight line without wavering. "See I'm fine. I think I'll go for a swim in the loc." Harry kicked off his shoes and shouted out at the water in serpent tongue. "Gotta call me ride first."
"He's footloose and fancy-free drunk." James tried to dive for his son, but Harry was already swimming out to Nessie. "This is very bad."
"Blimey! He's going bloomin Nessie surfing." Sirius couldn't believe his eyes.
Draco came wandering down to the beach took in the empty bottles, mug, and then Harry surfing the loc on Nessie. "Well, now we know how he acts when he's sloshed. He's fearless Wonder boy."
"Hey, Draco me mate grab a beer and join me!" Harry shouted.
"I'll pass on that one, but thanks for the offer!" He shouted back.
"Your loss," Harry grinned.
"Well genius, if she does as planned, and spies on us tonight." Sirius whistled the death march. "Lily is gonna do more than geld you."
"I am so doomed." James groaned.
--
Meanwhile at the girl's campsite…
Hermione was looking down on the boys with the Omnioculars. "Ron is with his dad by the fire. He looks miserable."
She scanned the area for Draco. "Draco is on the beach with Uncle James and Uncle Sirius, who look upset about something in the loc."
She scanned the loc. "Harry is riding what looks to be Nessie in his pants." The Omnioculars were wrenched away from her. "Hey, get your own!"
Lily looked at the beach. "Ale, Beer, and Guinness… I'll murder him for this!" She snarled.
"I don't know what the fuss is about, but I'll call him back to the beach." She cupped her hands to her mouth.
"NO!!" Lily shouted but it was too late.
Hermione sent out the call.
Draco looked around as the howl echoed down to them. "That was a wolf and not just any wolf a female one."
The call echoed around them a second time.
Draco sniffed the air. "I smell something familiar."
"Son of a bitch! He turned into Prince and jumped off towards the call! This is going from bad to worse!" James could just see his wife killing him.
The call echoed a third time.
"I'll go check it out." Draco turned into Dragon.
"Fat chance kid with a rash like that all you'll do is sit and scratch." Sirius shook his head.
"Well that's out." Draco reverted to normal. "I know that those scents are familiar."
"Think about it later we have to find Harry!" James took off down the beach.
"And face the wrath of Lily I don't bloody well think so!" Sirius and Draco went back to their campsite.
--
Hermione didn't have long to wait a very wet and happy Prince tackled her to the grass. "It's nice to see you too handsome now let me up you are sopping wet." She giggled.
Prince took a step back and playfully shook the water off his thick coat.
"Harry James, stop it." She laughed.
Prince turned into a very playful Harry. "What do I get if I stop?"
Lily knew that look all to well; he was in full-blown James the marauder mode. "Its much too cold for you to be running around half dressed and sopping wet, let alone surf on Nessie, now go dry off."
"Now that ain't any fun now is it?" Harry grinned wickedly at his mother, scooped up Hermione, and vanished.
"HARRY JAMES MERLIN EVANS-POTTER PENDRAGON YOU GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" Lily's roar echoed for miles.
"Don't worry Aunt Lily; Harry hasn't ever broken a promise." Ginny bit down on her lip.
"That wasn't Harry it was the James side of him! James, the complete idiot, went and got him drunk!! Now he isn't in control of his actions! He's a pirate!" Lily scanned the area for the two of them. "He really is another Merlin! I can't even sense where he went!"
"WHAT!?" James was standing just down the hill.
"TWO DAYS IN AZKABAN, JAMES! DOES THAT RING ANY BELLS!? ONLY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS IT WILL BE YOU WHO DOES THE TIME!" With a wave of her hand Lily gave him a mental shove down the hill. Lightning sparked from storm clouds that formed out of nowhere and thunder boomed ominously around them.
"I'll find them don't worry!" James gulped he had never seen her this mad.
"I CAN'T FIND HIM DUMB ASS!" She sent lightning right at his feet.
Jenna, Molly, Ginny, and Luna sought shelter in their tent.
"Lil's remember what happens when you draw on power like that while pregnant!" James dodged another lightning bolt.
"I DON'T CARE!" She was in the mood to fry her husband.
"You hate being sick remember!" That bolt grazed James leg. "That's gonna leave a mark." He yelped in pain.
"IT'S WORTH IT TO TEACH YOU A LESSON! YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME, BUT OH NO YOU MALES HAVE TO DRINK TO BOND! THAT IS SUCH ROT! HE COULD HAVE HAD A BUTTERBEER INSTEAD! EVEN GUINNESS IS FINE, JUST NOT FOUR OTHER DRINKS BEFORE THAT!" The wind howled around her and lightning shot across the sky.
"If it makes you feel any better he only likes Guinness!" He got an instant hotfoot when the bolt turned to fire.
"HE COULD BE DOING GODS KNOWS WHAT RIGHT NOW AND ALL YOU CAN THINK IS WHAT DRINK HE LIKES! WRONG ANSWER!!" She whipped the wind around him like a small tornado.
"You love me even if I am a screw up!"
"THAT'S THE ONLY REASON YOU'RE STILL BREATHING!" Lily was tapping into power that she hadn't used in sixteen years.
"With all of that in his system he should be out like a light by now. Nothing is going to happen." He was set back down on the grass. "Are you sure that you can't sense him? I mean that's never happened before." James now had a dark black cloud hanging above his head. "You wouldn't do that to me would you?" It started to pour buckets down on him.
"I can't sense him, which means that he must have gone to a place where the link doesn't follow." Lily made the cloud follow James as he tried to ditch it. "Where would that be James?" The cloud zapped him in the rear.
"Knock it off Red! I got your point!" He was tiring of being her target.
"Where is he James?!" Lily stalked down the hillside wind whipped her long fiery mane around her face.
"He discovered the dimension of the fairies, so he could be there." James stood his ground.
"He found the forgotten kingdom? He found the legendary portal to Avalon? How did he do that?" Lily her temper spent was claming down enough so the storm had ended.
"Ron blundered across it, when he ate one of their cakes. They got sucked into the portal. Our oldest son had to negotiate his release with Princess Celestra, who gave him a puffskein, and a Snidget as a gift." James sat down on the grassy knoll.
Lily sat down in his lap. "Doesn't Queen Mab resent your entire male line?"
"Evidently Queen Mab possessed the princess that Uther chose for his mate. Uther was possessed by Merlin nature took its course and Arthur was born, meaning the whole half-blood thing is a farce, but the people need not know that. Queen Mab would welcome him with open arms." James corrected her.
"That settles it we need to pay a visit to that tree." Lily turned to look him in the eyes. "You do know where that tree is do you not?"
"Not exactly no, but Draco does." James tried to think of what could be happening in Avalon.
"I need to give them that stronger potion anyway, so let's go see our other son and Ron." She got to her feet and headed down the knoll.
"You are not going hiking in your delicate condition." James growled.
"You're right I'll fly down to your camp instead." She turned into a magenta feathered Phoenix flew off.
"Show off and she wonders where he gets it from." He turned into Prongs and took off down the knoll.
--
Chapter 31
The Handfasting
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008