Disclaimer: Not mine
So I had an idea which means the poll will be ignored, sorry, but I think what I came up with will work best for the story.
Chapter 3
Somnus paused and looked in to see Harry sitting with Aera in the library, bent over a book. The boy had been with them for three weeks now and Somnus still wasn't sure how he felt about his presence. The boy was quiet, polite, quick to offer help with anything and that meant the kitchen staff loved him because he could cook and knew recipes they'd never heard of. Everyone loved him but…was he really that shallow? To dislike Harry because he took the attention Somnus was used to having?
He had no skill at healing, not like Ardyn, but even he could tell the boy had lived a hard life while they had grown up in the city, wanting for nothing. Their lives could have easily been reversed, there was no doubt he carried their blood. He looked too much like them for any other option and he had magic. They weren't the only family with magic but when the two were put together it was rather good evidence. It was just possible they were even half-brothers; Harry was just old enough to fit before their Father had been killed. Even if he wasn't their brother, he was a cousin to some degree. He was also an orphan, like them, and from Ardyn's reaction, the people who had raised him were lucky they had never met them. His brother was not a violent man but Somnus was sure those people would come to a messy end should Ardyn ever find them.
He needed to do better, make more effort to get to know him.
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Ardyn smiled as Harry joined him, reaching out to ruffle now neatly cut black hair. It had been kept long enough to tie back and keep out of the way, but now it was clean and tidy. He was also gaining weight and his time spent in the gardens had his skin tanning nicely, hopefully it was not too late to fix the effects of malnutrition. Harry was remaining stubbornly silent on most of his past but the few things he had let slip made it clear that his relatives had not been fond of his magic. He would do everything in his power to ensure the boy never returned to them.
Harry was family, their family, and they would ensure he grew up safe and happy. Aera had accepted Harry easily, enjoying helping him with his studies, for which he was grateful. Harry soaked up any positive attention and she was happy to give it; she had told him it was good practice for the future. Somnus seemed unsure how to interact with Harry, although he had begun trying more in the last few weeks.
Now Harry was healthy enough to see hoe his magic manifested and if he could do more than transform. Gilgamesh was watching from nearby in case of accidents, as long as Harry continued to put on weight the way he was, he would soon begin training with Gil.
Ardyn sat in the grass and Harry sat down opposite him, looking nervous but also eager. "How would you like to begin?"
That got a stunned look. "Me?"
Ardyn chuckled. "These are lessons to help you master your magic, therefore you need to feel comfortable. You know your magic, everyone is different. I can heal, Somnus cannot. Aera communicates with the god's to share their words with the people. Obviously, you have your transformation but that is unlikely to be all you can do."
"Oh…" Harry chewed at his lip. "Could…could I learn to do that disappearing thing you do with your sword?"
Ardyn smiled. "Both Somnus and I can, so you likely can too."
"Why can I do it because you can?" he asked and Ardyn blinked, had none of them mentioned it?
"Harry…have you not noticed anything similar in your appearance to ours?" he asked and Harry stared at him.
"Um…Somnus has black hair too?"
Ardyn chuckled. "There are enough similarities to indicate relation of some sort."
"That's impossible." Harry shook his head.
"When we are done here we can go look at the family portraits, perhaps you will recognise one," he offered and Harry nodded slowly.
"Okay."
"First lesson then."
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Harry followed Ardyn down the halls, looking up in awe at the paintings of the Lucis Caelum family over the centuries. The black hair popped up in a lot of them, just as wild as his own. Some had green eyes, though not the same shade as his own, besides he had his Mum's eyes but his hair came from his Dad. None of them looked familiar though and he didn't see the point. This wasn't his world, there was no way he could be related to anyone here. He'd never realised other worlds existed,, there'd been no mention in any of the books he'd read at school. But was else could it be?
He had to fight the urge to laugh at some of them and what they were wearing, Ardyn catching his eye and grinning, making them both laugh.
"Fashion is definitely in the eye of the beholder."
"How could anyone think that looks good?" Harry stared at one man dressed in…he wasn't even sure what that was.
"My theory is he was colour blind," Ardyn admitted and then they moved on.
Harry froze, eyes wide as he stared at a portrait. It wasn't possible…was it?
"Harry?"
"I've seen him before, a painting."
Ardyn looked at him and then stepped up to read the name. "Leonis Gryffindor, married Amalthea Lucis Caelum two hundred years ago."
"Gryffindor. Godric Gryffindor was one of the founders of my school. But those dates can't be right because that was around a thousand years ago and that painting was older than that, but it's definitely the same person, the name's even the same."
"Are you related to this Gryffindor family?"
"Maybe?" he shrugged. "Hermione said the male line died out generations ago but that there were some daughters. Potter's are traditionally sorted into his House at school but that doesn't really mean anything. And…it was his sword I used on the snake."
"Not to mention a family resemblance."
"Most of the older families have mixed at some point," he grimaced, he knew that meant it was possible he was even related to people like the Malfoy's.
"Do you know how far back the Potter's trace?" Ardyn asked and Harry shook his head.
"I don't really know anything about Dad's family, I know I'm the last Potter," he admitted as they looked a bit further but no one else looked familiar so they turned and headed back, it was almost dinner time. It was nice getting three meals and snacks a day that were nicer than school food. The food at Hogwarts was too heavy for him and it took him a month or more to adjust to it after being at the Dursley's.
"Well, it seems you are also a Lucis Caelum and a Gryffindor," Ardyn rested a hand on his shoulder and Harry pressed into it.
A Gryffindor….it did kind of make sense and better Godric's heir than Slytherin's. Unless he was related to both? How could the dates be so off though? It meant he wasn't the only one to come here though, did that mean there was a way back? Even if there was, why should he take it? He'd been treated better in the month here than he had ever, that he remembered anyway. He only had pictures of his happy life with his parents, no memories of it. He didn't really miss anyone either. Ron blamed him for Ginny and Hermione…she was his friend but she also drove him insane. She'd barely spoken to him since being unpetrified, too busy catching up on school work and helping the Weasley's.
There weren't many other kids around but he didn't mind, he liked spending time with Ardyn and the others. Kids were cruel.
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Somnus knocked on the door and then Harry was opening it, looking up at him. "Good morning Harry."
"Good morning Somnus," Harry smiled at him.
"I was wondering if you would like to join me? Gil said you are learning quickly." He saw the flicker of surprise and he felt bad for not doing more before now. Ardyn would be leaving again soon which meant Harry would be without two of his teachers for months. It was time he stepped up to help his cousin.
Ardyn had shown him the portrait Harry had recognised, it was a surprise to find the relation that far back but at least it confirmed things to them, even if Harry didn't know if he was related to Gryffindor. He had planned to begin his own travelling, to see more of the world, but he could wait. He knew it would make leaving easier for Ardyn to know he was safe and that he would be there for Harry.
They made their way to the training yard and he began to work with Harry, seeing what Gilgamesh had taught him so far.
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Harry closed his eyes, focusing carefully, reaching for his magic how Ardyn and now Somnus had been teaching him. He gasped and his eyes opened, staring in shock at the familiar sword in his hand…the Sword of Gryffindor. That answered the question of where it had gone.
"That was very well done," Somnus praised and Harry couldn't help grinning, he'd done it!
It wasn't like using a wand at all and he liked not having to use one to use his magic. He'd noticed his magic felt a little different but was that because of his transformation or the trip here?
"Now see if you can send it back and then re-summon it, you need to get a feel for the magic until it becomes instinct."
Harry nodded and began sending the blade away and then calling it back. Wouldn't Ardyn be surprised when he came home?
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Aera smiled as Harry rushed over to greet her. He'd grown since her last visit and he looked very healthy now, especially compared to when she'd first seen him. She hugged him in greeting, listening as he told her about what had happened in her absence and what Somnus had been teaching him. It was good, that Ardyn and Somnus now had Harry to help bring them back closer together. He was losing the wariness he'd had at first, opening up and becoming happy. It was amazing that he had been with them almost a year now, the time had flown by. Ardyn was due back tomorrow and she was glad, she missed him when he left, even though she knew his work was important.
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It was a relief to be home again and he couldn't help smiling as he saw the teenager running across the courtyard to meet them, Somnus and Aera following him more slowly. Harry skidded to a stop, hesitating, but Ardyn smiled and opened his arms. Harry moved in for a hug and Ardyn was pleased to feel well developing muscles beneath his clothing, his training was going well then.
"I've missed you," Harry whispered and Ardyn ruffled his hair.
"I have missed you too," he assured him. "You have been well?"
Harry nodded, stepping back, only to be engulfed in a hug by Gil. "Watch!" he held his hand out and a sword appeared in a flash of gold magic.
Ardyn laughed and clapped. "Very well done!" he praised. He had not seen golden hued magic before but it suited him.
"Somnus works with me when he's not busy, he said you'd be proud I finally got it."
"And I am very proud. And no finally about it, we began instruction younger than you Harry." They'd all noticed that habit and had been doing their best to break it, of Harry assuming he was doing things wrong. Ardyn pulled Aera into an embrace as she reached them, kissing her cheek and she smiled at him.
"Come, wash up, eat, and then rest," she told them both and they meekly followed, Harry going to help with their mounts. "How are you?" she asked once out of ear shot, Harry had very good hearing.
"Nothing rest, good food, and company cannot fix," he promised.
"Good."
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Gilgamesh nodded as Harry blocked his blow. "Good, again." Harry was doing far better than he had expected. It seemed he too had inherited the instinctive skill for battle that ran in the family. While Ardyn would likely prefer him to be a Healer, a far safer profession, he needed to be able to protect himself.
Harry was using the blade Gil had gifted him, the one that had been instinctively stored was too dangerous to use outside of an actual battle due to the poison in the blade. He would need to choose other weapons to add to the Armiger over the next few years, learn to truly use the magic in battle to summon his weapons to protect him and overwhelm the enemy.
They continued for another twenty minutes and then Harry missed a parry, green eyes wide, only for a weak barrier to appear between them as he stumbled back. Gilgamesh smiled, that was very good, though obviously unexpected. It seemed Harry did best when allowing his instincts to guide his magic.
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Harry lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, worn out from training. He'd been living in the citadel for two years now and he loved his life. He missed Ardyn and Gil when they were away but he'd had Somnus and Aera, plus all the staff and his tutors. Tomorrow, Somnus was leaving with a group of soldiers and they would be gone for several months. He was sad about that, but his lessons kept him relatively busy so the time would fly by, just like when the others were gone. Part of him wished he could go with them while another part never wanted to leave his home. Hogwarts had been his first but when compared to the Citadel it was lacking in many ways. He'd definitely gotten closer to Somnus since he had started helping with his lessons and he liked that they both treated him like a little brother.
He'd found his wand in his Armiger but he never used it, he only had two years of training with it, he didn't really know many spells and a lot of them weren't all that useful. He preferred the magic they taught him, it was more limited in effects but also stronger and easier to wield with no silly Latin words. Which had him suspecting that maybe the words weren't actually needed, maybe even the wand too. Maybe it was more about power and intent, just like calling up a barrier. It was something to work on between lessons.
His other form was still a work in progress, thankfully he hadn't spontaneously changed shapes again but he also couldn't manage a controlled change. When he practised, he did so in one of the vaults to keep people from seeing. He didn't want anyone else to know because then they might be scared or think he had the Scourge, despite living with the one person able to heal it. He could change different body parts but not everything at once. Professor McGonagall had said it was very advanced magic though. He did wonder if the basilisk venom had influenced it somehow, the wound had still been burning the first time he'd changed and then all the pain had been gone.
Harry sighed and closed his eyes, trying to go to sleep. He needed to be up early to see Somnus off. He would also give him his answer then, he would accept the offer Ardyn and Somnus had made and use the name Harry Lucis Caelum. He liked the idea of his name fitting in better, of making it obvious they were family. His Mum and Dad would want that, right?
TBC….
There is a plot reason for my choice of ancestor but it will not be revealed for a while
