Will and the Word

Chapter Four

As Polgara entered she saw the boy who had just a scant few hours ago been unconscious and bleeding was more than on the mend "Beldaran is not in the habit of being loud like that. I would not be surprised if every sorcerer on the continent heard and felt that." Harry looked at the woman and despite her simple dress he could see in her stance and demeanor she was no stranger to power this lady had power and knew how to use it. She chose the simple life.

Harry straightened and gave a bow "I don't know M'lady, Where I am from spells and the like made noise only if you were verbally casting or if they hit and destroyed something." He looked down embarrassed "I did not even cast a spell I gave my word on my life and magic that I would be here when Beldaran returned from dinner with you all. I am sorry I disrupted your dinner"

Now that he was not covered in blood Polgara could see he was beyond rail thin, and his body language was guarded at best. "I am Polgara the Sorceress, the ill-dressed reprobate behind me is my Father Belgarath the sorcerer and his wife my mother Poledra. The two saintly looking old men behind them are my uncles Belkira and Beltira, standing just off to the side is my husband Durnik." Polgara said hoping introductions would help ease the tension she was not disappointed.

"My name is Harry James Potter-Black, The Boy-who-Lived, The Chosen One, the man who lost … everybody important."

His grief was palpable and since he was looking down, he did not see Polgara cross the room but he certainly felt the well-practiced warm embrace that had been perfected over the many centuries she had been alive. She whispered into his ears and he nodded at intervals eventually the tension completely left him "If it is not too much trouble yes, I would love to join you for dinner. Thank you for the invitation."

Beldaran was in awe of her aunt, Harry had been a moment from shutting down she could see it. Hell, she could feel it. The sudden turnaround was jarring.

"Pol I know you are interested in getting him fed but we need to address the fact that he stalks through the world like a thousand-foot-tall elephant." Belgarath snorted "And we need to see what he knows maybe help him find something that interests him to study."

"Studying, Hermione and Luna would be all over that. Me I am not the best student in the world. Although maybe since I do not have an insane wizard trying to kill me anymore, I might be able to apply myself … I did bring both my family grimoires and some other texts. We can compare notes the differences between your brand of magic and mine is." Harry then grew silent for a moment "If it is not too much trouble. I would like to help out while I am here. Given that I don't have a clue where I am it stands to reason that I will be here learning for a bit and while sharing one meal is acceptable. I have to be able to make my way through the world on my own."

Durnik listened and noted that the boy had many traits that were Sendaria in nature which went a long way to quelling any misgivings he might have had. "Well, if you are of the mind, you can help me around the farm when you are not studying."

"I can help out in the kitchen as well; I have been cooking and cleaning since I was very young." Harry said slowly."

"Harry how are you carrying anything when you brought it to us. You were bloodied up and were wearing rags" Beldaran asked.

Harry smiled as he touched a point on his chest and said "Finite" unlike his oath this was barely a whisper and a pouch appeared on a cord that harry wore as a necklace. "My best friend made this for me it is blood bound to me so only I can open it."

Polgara looked shocked "How much blood did you have to sacrifice."

Harry smiled "While my people had rituals, vile rituals that called for a full-body worth of blood, or blood forcefully taken. This was not one of those it was a single drop of blood."

"How much can it hold?" Belgarath asked his curiosity piqued

"I can't confirm an upper limit to how much it can hold but right now it has 10 goodly sized chests, my tent, and other odds and ends that were in my vaults before the war started. The enchantments Hermione put on this are not even remotely taxed." Realizing he had given them more information than he had planned he immediately clammed up again

Belgarath recognizing in Harry the same feeling he felt when Poledra was gone "Pol can we deal with this in the morning I would like a few moments to discuss something with Harry here." Belgarath asked Polgara looked at the young man again and then thought back to the things her father did to himself while she was a baby. She then nodded and prayed this young man did not find solace at the bottom of a bottle. The two men sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Belgarath broke the silence.

I have lived for over 7000 years I have had friends and family come and go in that time. You will eventually get to reading the history of the world. 5000 years ago, my master Aldur and the other gods Sent myself, Cherek Bear-shoulders, His sons Algar Fleet-Foot, Dras Bull-neck and Riva Iron-Grip to retrieve his Orb from his brother Torak. We got the orb back and when we returned home, I was told by my family that Poledra had died in labor delivering my Daughters Beldaran and Polgara. At first It was everything I could do to keep myself alive but after 6 months I left the girls with my brothers and spent the next decade or so in an alcohol induced fugue. I can see that you are barely holding it together and that you are waiting until no one is looking before you break.

Nothing I can say or do will prevent the break that is coming, but I can be there as a voice of non-judgmental experience for you to talk to as opposed to finding solace at the bottom of the bottle. I don't think your Luna would want that fate for you. Come on join us for dinner I am sure my other granddaughters would love to meet you."

Harry stood mute in the face of the overwhelming emotions Belgarath had shared with him. "Merlin's Beard 5000 years thinking your wife is dead how did you… Sorry that is a bit personal to ask but how did you end up dealing with loss?" Harry asked as he followed Belgarath into the cottage "You do not have to answer if it is too personal."

"I survived because I had two very good reasons in the form of my daughters "Polgara and Beldaran if it had not been for them. I think I might have destroyed myself." Belgarath admitted causing all conversation around the table to stop "What? Beldin and twins both knew I was on the ragged edge for the first six months they kept smothering my will when I tried."

"One does not think that is an appropriate topic for discussion at the dinner table" Poledra said sadly "Ul and the necessity were very direct on what would happen if I did not do as I was asked."

"I am sorry o should have been more circumspect and ask at a different time" Harry said cringing as he did so look at the three young ladies two of which had never seen a boy who was not related to them or someone they grew up with.

Asrana who was always very forward asked what was on her mind "We have not been formally introduced I am Asrana and this is my sister Allyssa. If you don't mind me asking what happened to you?"

"Asrana did you think maybe he would not want to talk about it just yet" Allyssa said embarrassed by her sister's forwardness. "You don't have to answer it was rude of her to ask!"

"Like you did not want to know Lyss" Asrana snarked at her sister "You are just too polite to say anything."

"Children!" Polgara said her voice severe the kind that promised punishment that fit the crime "If Harry wants to answer he may but even though I only had a cursory glance as you three were caring for him. He has been through something traumatic and it is best to let him come to it in his own time."

"Shame on you Asrana, just because the Geran and his friend let you bully him into almost anything." Durnik said his gentle voice remonstrating her "Does not give you the right to be so rude now both you and Allyssa finish your meals and head to bed tomorrow is a new day."

Beldaran wanted to shrink into her seat as she looked at Harry and mouthed 'I am sorry.'

"It's okay really. The problem is if I tell you what you want to know you are only going to be left with more questions. So, I will give you the over view. 50 years ago, there was a wizard who performed rituals in order to attain immortality. He also led a crusade against those wizards who were not the 'Right Sort' if you take my meaning." Getting nods from around the table he continued "His power was so great that he only feared one wizard my mentor Albus Dumbledore. The two fought a war in the shadows for nearly 30 years before Thomas Riddle decided he would come out into the open instigating a full-on rebellion against crown and country.

20 years ago, my mentor who was also the headmaster of the school I attended gave an interview to an oracle who Prophesied that a child would be born at the end of the seventh month who would have the power to vanquish the dark lord. Only two such boys were born during the time frame HE chose to hunt my family, killing my parents and marking me with this scar" he said pointing to the faint lightning bolt shaped scare on his forehead.

"However, for all his power and knowledge. He overlooked something simple: A mother's love. My mother performed a ritual that Protected me from him in such a way that it reduced his body to ash causing him to wander the world as a wraith 13 years until his followers captured me and used me in ritual give him a new body. For the last three years I had been actively fighting a war. I had only my friends to rely on we thought we were winning. 18 months ago, we were betrayed and my friends Ron, Ginny, Neville, Hermione and my fiancé Luna were captured and killed. The last thing I remember was the running battle at the castle where I went to school, we had fought to draw when he played his final gambit and raised an army of Inferi which included the bodies of my friends and My Luna. The last thing I did should have destroyed anything with the taint of evil and then I lost consciousness from the wounds the dark lord and his horde of undead gave me. I was happy to die in all honesty."

Belgarath and Polgara both understood what he left unsaid

"However, it would seem that another power brought me here. For what reason I do not know."

Asrana wore a look of mortification the overview alone brought Allyssa, Beldaran and her to tears. Polgara and Poledra had their hands full comforting the girls.