Catcher

A/N; I'm kinda wingin' this story now, I don't know how I am going to end it. I know what I want to happen in this chapter though, and as soon as I know what will happen in the next then I will write it… any ideas will speed up that process.

This chapter is not slash.

Chapter 30; Silver Flames

HMS Kent

Harry woke up in a bed and took in his surroundings, the last things he remembered made little sense to him, he remember a great valley and saying goodbye to Matt before darkness and then a blurry face that resembled Matt with tears once again running down his face but with a small smile.

Now he was in a simply furnished room. From his place on his side he could make out another bed opposite him which was empty though the covers were rumpled as if someone had slept in it, also on the other wall was two doors, one stood open and Harry could just make out a shower. The other door was firmly closed but looked more substantial than the first. Maybe a door to a corridor.

He tensed quickly when he felt a breath on the back of his neck and then more details made themselves clear. He realised that he could feel a body pressed lightly against his back and an arm slung protectively around and up his bare torso. He relaxed when he noted the familiarity of the person and his sense telling him to relax. He snuggled backwards into the friendly arms and almost dozed off whilst waiting for his friend to wake up.

He didn't have to wait long, it wasn't more than half an hour later that he felt the breaths on the back of his neck quicken slightly and the arm around him tighten as Matt woke up. He twisted in his friends arms to face him to see tears creeping at the corner of his eyes. He pulled his friend to him and hug him to him.

"I'm sorry Matt, I didn't want to leave you." He felt tears against his skin as Matt rested his head under his chin. It was another twenty minutes before Matt had calmed enough to talk.

"I brought you back last night and Captain Dowlry assigned us this room. But I had a nightmare about losing my family again and I needed to reassure myself that you were not going to die so I slept with you."

It wasn't the first time that Harry and Matt had woken to find the other wrapped around them. They both had nightmares of their past but Matt's were by far worse.

Matt went on to explain everything that had happened after Harry had died and after he had faded from his mind's reality.

"So we're on HMS Kent now?" Harry asked once he had finished. He heard an affirmative grumble from his neck which was more a vibration felt where Matt was still attached to him than any sound.

"Shall we go have a chat with the Captain?" Harry asked again and got a nod against his chin in response. Harry made to move again but Matt just tightened his arms instead of getting up. Harry tightened his own arms and laid a small kiss to the top of Matt's hair.

Ten minutes later they were standing in the corridor. Harry was once more wearing his full Order of the Zalot battle gear whereas Matt wore an Elvish Battle cloak that he was used to. Harry katana once again hung from his waist and Matt's staff hung from his own.

"Which way?" Matt asked.

"How am I supposed to know? You brought me here." Harry retorted.

"Um… Hey!" He quickly called down the hall as a figure came out of another door further down the hall. "Can you show us how to get to the Quarterdeck?"

Harry took pity on the Lieutenant. "The bridge if you don't mind Lieutenant."

The man snapped himself out of his daze and led them down the corridors and up some stairs. "These ships don't have masts and the controls are normally at the highest part of the ship in the middle rather than at the back." Harry explained to Matt as they walked.

They entered the Bridge to be pointed out onto a Balcony.

"General Granger, Lord Balakay, it is good to see you both." Harry said before turning to the man in Naval Uniform. "Captain Dowlry, I presume. Thank you for your rescue efforts towards The Burning Wind."

"I am sure you would do the same if the situation was reversed, I only wish we could do more to aid in the repairs, but my men are ill-trained for neither the rigging and hull repairs nor the magical repairs required, and although I no little of said repairs myself I must credit the abilities of your Elven Allies in their speed so far." The Muggle Captain responded.

The Elven Lord smiled slightly at the praise and bowed his head to the Muggle in response.

"Has anything major happened in my…" he searched around for the right word as to not set off Matt again, "…absence?"

"Only a meeting between the Muggle Powers to consolidate forces. We are on our way back to the English Channel now to rendezvous with a joint, American, NATO and Russian Naval fleet. Also the American Army and Air force is mobilising and fortifying its southern border in case the Kristoshian forces attempt to invade. I believe the American Magical World is aiding in this effort." General Granger informed them.

"What about the situation with Voldermort?" Harry asked.

It was Captain Dowlry that answered, "A message came for you from an Auror by the name of Tonks, it written in a code though." He handed Harry a slip of paper and they all waited as Harry read it.

"It seems," Harry sighed slightly, "that the English Magical world is more then a little troubled by the idea of merging with their muggle counterparts. It is taking too much time for them to do more than defend their own towns and cities."

"Can they not build up any force to help then?" Asked General Granger.

"They are faced with an enemy on their own grounds. One that has so many agents deep inside their government that the country is almost already under his control. If we expect their help in this fight then we must first take out Voldermort." Matt put in.

"With my abilities it shouldn't be too troublesome taking him out, but its finding him and his forces which are the problem." Harry admitted. "When we reach home then I will track him and attempt to kill him. After that maybe the British Ministry will be in a better position to aid us. Till then we will wait with you so that I can recuperate if that is ok with you."

"Of course." Spoke the Captain of HMS Kent. "I can put you ashore as soon as we are within twenty odd miles of the shore. All of my helicopters are on the Exeter and Nottingham but I can recall one to air lift you."

"That shouldn't be necessary Captain. I can provide myself and Harry with transport." Matt put in. "If that is everything for now I have a request for you Captain."

"Of course, If I can provide it, it is yours."

"I only ask for the use of that cleared area towards the stern."

"The flight deck?" The Captain asked, "Of course, I have no use for it apart from keeping it clear in case of emergency. Can I ask what you intend to use it for?"

"Just an experiment Captain, I don't believe we will do it any damage."

"Of course, do you need any assistance?"

"Maybe a couple of men in case we tire ourselves out, just to carry us back to our rooms." Harry put in getting Matt's idea from what he told him that morning.

It wasn't long before the Captain had left them on the flight deck with two young signalmen from the off watch that had volunteered to help when they had come off duty as they passed the communications room.

"How do you think we're supposed to do this then?" Harry asked his friend.

"I don't really know, Gryat said it was summoned by Magic. Maybe if you completely open yourself to the magic and draw loads of Magic to you it might work."

Harry instantly fell into his Crysti daze and used his ability given to him as Heir of Magic to pull all the Magic in the area to him. He was careful not to affect the Elves around them and noted that there was fifteen squibs in the fleet and also three Leviathans swimming around the front of the three large metal ships.

To Matt who had become sensitive to Magic in his time around Harry noted the magic fizzing in the air across the whole deck and was glad he had asked to use it instead of attempting it in their room. To the two Signalmen it looked like the deck was covered in a huge heat haze. One that was drawing the attention of all of the on-deck men and some of the people on the other ships. From their position on the actual flight deck they could feel tendrils of something semi-substantial tugging at their bodies but in such a way that it seemed to float straight through their clothing without affecting them. It made them shiver even as they felt a slight rise in temperature but they knew that whatever it was, it was not hurting them and that somehow the man in black clothing was pulling it around them so that the heat didn't hurt them.

Then suddenly it disappeared, waves of heat flew up into the air in all directions and dissipated into the sea air. "It's not working Matt!" Harry called out over the roar of the sea and the noise of the engines.

"Try bringing me into it with you. Make it include me as well as you. Is that possible?"

"I don't know, I don't know if it would hurt you."

"Try it Harry, it's not going to work any other way I can think of."

Harry thought for a second, before relenting to Matt's pleading eyes. He turned to the two pale faced Signal men. "Are you two alright, that didn't hurt you at all did it?"

"No Sir, It just felt a bit weird." Matt frowned and asked them to elaborate. They shared a look and the man spoke again. "It felt like we were being striped and searched by hundreds of fingers." He said going slightly red. Neither was much older than Harry and Matt.

"I apologise, it didn't hurt did it?" Harry asked.

"Not really Sir," the other spoke, "It was quite pleasant to be honest." He said going as red as his friend.

"Same here Harry," Matt spoke up quietly. "And you two, stop calling us Sir. We're the same age as you. Sir just sounds daft. It's Harry and Matt."

"Right, we're going to try again, it'll fell the same for you two, different for you Matt." Harry spoke. He waited for the two men to nod and move back a few paces.

Harry fell into his daze again but this time grabbed Matt's hand to make skin contact and started to draw the magic into both of them. He felt Matt weaken against him and moved to hold him up by his waist. To the onlookers the same was happening again but to Matt, he felt like he was everywhere but nowhere all at once.

'Try searching for a link similar to Gryats.' Harry spoke across the link.

'I've already found one, I'm going to try to shift the link to you as well.'

Harry felt a connection form and almost instantly felt a power licking across his body and mind as his Crysti vision flared into a vicious silver glare.

The two Signalmen stared as first the fingers other their body vanished and they fell forwards as a sudden wind grabbed at them and pulled them towards the two other men. Just as the were gaining their balance again and silver light erupted from the taller of the two in the centre and flared outwards in waves similar to flames before dying out and sending the two men crumpling onto the deck.

The two men were next to the fallen almost instantly and after checking them over quickly lifted them up gingerly and headed towards the hanger doors. To their surprise they met an Army General there.

They paused to listen to the man. "The Captain sends his compliments and asked me to tell you two that you are off of the duty rooster till these two are recovered. You are to stay with them till then and can call down to the Galley for food and drink when you wish." Before saying more he stepped aside to let them pass.

Within five minutes the two Signalmen were placing their charges on their beds and settling on the end of Harry's bed to chat while they waited for them to awaken.