Miss Moony would like to dedicate this chapter to Sanna for being the first reviewer.

Miss Moony would also like to thank StarsLover, . . ., emikae, Hana and Jane silver for reviewing.

To Jane silver: Yes, this is a Harry/Briar. Don't you think that pairing's so CUTE? And I completely agree that there aren't enough Emelan-slash stories out there (other that Lark/Rosethorns, which are squicky). Don't you hate Briar being paired with the other girls; they're supposed to be his sisters.

To StarsLover: No, Harry's not going to be a Mage, but that won't stop Niko from thinking he is. As for the wandless magic, Harry's always been able to do that when he's very emotional, and Moony's taking for granted that Insane!Harry would be emotional most of the time. And you might have noticed that the spell didn't work properly; that's because, I assume, wandless magic is much more draining than other types of magic. And Harry was surprised that it didn't work because he thought he was using his wand (lol, I know you didn't actually ask about that).

To . . .: If you hate slash, then why are you reading this story? There was a clear slash warning at the beginning AND in the summary. And if you only opened this story so you could give me your views on slash-pairings, then you shouldn't have reviewed in the first place, 'cause there's noting I can do about your opinions, and you shouldn't critisise stories that you're not going to read.

And to get one thing straight, when you look at Harry's thoughts, the spells are said out loud; the rest is in his head.

------- I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good -------

Chapter 2

Footsteps… They're coming… Death Eaters… No… Please… Don't hurt them again… It's me you want…

'Wha… name… ?' A voice, sweet like honey.

Name? … I have many names… Freak… Murderer… Freak… Murderer…

The next voice was raspy and dry. '… Harry…'

Briar, Tris, Sandry and Daja decided to take Pasco, Evvy and Keth to Summersea market the next morning. They met Sandry and Pasco there, as they both lived in the area, and then decided to search out the new Mage.

Briar and Evvy were searching behind the market stalls when Briar received a mind-call from Daja, who was searching with Sandry and Pasco.

He's here, she said. Briar shifted his vision and saw the boy through Daja's eyes.

Yes, he replied, That's definitely him.

I know that, thief-boy, Daja replied. The only question is how to get him out of here.

Briar mentally shrugged. Don't ask me, he said, I'll be there in a minute to help out.

Thanks, Daja said. We're in the alley behind the string-seller's stall.

Briar mentally nodded before breaking the connection and turning to Evvy.

'Let's go, Evvy,' he said. 'Daja and Sandry found him. We've got to help get him back to Discipline.'

Dripping… Drip… Drip… Drip… Drip… Water… Blood… Death… Murderer… Freak… Murderer… More footsteps… More Death Eaters… No, Professor… Run… Run… Fly… Fly away… Before they hurt you again… Before they kill you again…

'…id, we… ere… help you.' Another voice, one that sounded suspiciously like…

"You didn't think we'd let you do this on your own, did you?"… Ron… Hermione… Dead… All dead… Murderer… Murderer… I killed my own best friends… Murderer…

He drew in a shaky breath and drew his legs closer to his body. 'Fly… Fly away… They're coming back…'

Someone was trying to pick him up. He struggled. He was too weak.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, mate. It wasn't your fault."… "Harry, you need to eat, or Madam Pomphrey'll be out for blood; ours."… Hogwarts was gone… Destroyed… Death… Destruction… Blood… Screaming… "Help us, Harry!"

Briar felt the boy begin to struggle as he picked him up. He had been muttering at them to fly away. –Doesn't he realise that people can't fly? Briar asked Sandry and Daja.

He could feel Daja's exasperation at his question. When someone tells you to "fly", it nearly always means, "flee", thief-boy.

Well, sorry, Briar said, sarcasm rolling off his mental voice. But how was I supposed to know that?

Common sense, Daja snapped back.

Stop it, you two, Sandry said. And look where you're going, Briar. He looks sick enough without you dropping him.

Briar started. He had almost walked into a wall, he'd been so preoccupied with his argument with Daja. He didn't respond to Sandry's comment, but settled for looking sheepish instead.

They soon reached Evvy and Pasco, who'd been waiting for them by the string-seller's stall. Evvy straightened up and looked at the boy – Harry – in amazement. 'He's beautiful,' she whispered, completely in awe of the boy. 'Like an angel.'

The boy started muttering again, his eyes still firmly closed. '… A dark angel… whose wings were clipped at birth…'

Evvy jumped, having thought he was asleep. Briar looked at her in surprise; he had responded to her. Maybe there was hope for him, after all.

Angels… angels are good… pure… light… Me… I'm a freak… a dark angel… Mum was an angel… My guardian angel… Moony and Padfoot were my guiding stars… I'm not an angel… I'm… I'm…

A whisper. '… A dark angel… whose wings were clipped at birth…'

She spoke in awe… Awe… Wonder… Awe… "That was bloody awesome, Professor."… Blood… Blood… Too much blood… Can't you smell it? … Can't you taste it? … Why aren't you running? …