Bandit King

Chapter 20

Peace For Awhile

Harry opened his eyes, closing them instantly. The light was too bright. Was he in heaven, was he killed? Because if so, why did his muscles ache all over, and he had a pounding headache. In addition, he could feel someone holding his hand. He groaned as he opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the light.

"He's coming around," a familiar voice said close to him. "Harry, Harry, are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

He groaned again. "Do I look okay Luna?" he asked as he looked at the girl holding his hand.

"No, you look terrible," agreed Sahara giggling weakly from somewhere nearby. Looking over he saw her in another bed with Ginny and Daphne sitting with her, both staring worriedly at him, while Luna, Tracey, and Astoria Greengrass were by his side, pampering him. Sahara had her head wrapped in bandages; he then realised his was too, as he patted them while pouting.

"What happened?" he croaked out weakly.

"You stabbed Feareus before you hit the ground," Sahara informed him. "Then he fled, that's all I know before I passed out, and woke up here."

"Oh, you're both awake," said the nurse as she exited her office, hurrying over to Harry. "You are very lucky to be alive," she said reproachfully. "A normal human taking a hit like that would have died on impact… could you do something with this before I see to you?" she said pointing to his blade. "Miss Davis saw fit to clean the blood off it," she added as he retracted it. "Thank you," she said, holding each eyelid open in turn to check his pupils with the light of her wand.

She then proceeded to prod him with her wand. "Well, that's good news, the young man Arctic got here when Miss Granger called him. He said you should both heal faster than a standard human? Though, I suspect, like Miss… Sahara, you would like a headache potion?"

"Oh, yes please," he replied gratefully as she passed him it, and he drained the bottle sighing in relief, even though it tasted horrible. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. King," she replied with a small smile as she hurried over to fuss over Sahara.

"Where is everyone?" Harry asked Luna, Tracey, and Astoria, looking his girls over, smiling a little as it didn't take much for Daphne to convince them into joining them, and he felt a bond rather quickly, and it could help bring back Saiyan blood in the future, he figured to be with more normal humans too.

"Oh, Rose just went to the bathroom," Tracey replied smiling. "And we sent June to lunch… we told, well mostly Ginny told Dumbledore about the Saiyan thing, as apparently, everybody had just thought you thought a monkey tail would be funny with your staff thing, and it being modelled on the Monkey King and everything, so never asked," she said smugly. "It seemed to brighten his day, though… and Rose lent him a book about the Five Races."

Harry chuckled lightly. "What about my classes?"

Luna grinned. "Don't worry, Arctic's taking them for you until you're well… he seemed to think you were being hard on everyone. I think he might have let them slack off a bit."

Harry sighed disapprovingly. "He's always been like that. I'll just have to get well faster then. I can't have them slaking off."

"Oh, don't worry, Harry," chimed Sahara as the nurse left her be. "He won't let them slack off too much, though he might try to teach them something fun."

"Madam Pomfrey, can we leave now?" he asked hopefully.

"No, you can't," she retorted. "Well, at the least I want to hold you both for a few hours observation."

Harry sighed dramatically as the nurse headed back to her office. "I hate hospitals."

"Me too," said Rose from the door, grinning amusedly as she strolled in, and leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I've been here too many times, so it's nice to be visiting instead of stranded in a bed. You are going to be okay, aren't you?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine," he agreed as she sat between Luna, and Astoria.

"Good. Shoulin and Hayne have gone to inform the Mystics Council about that guy who beat you up," she told him smugly. "They'll be back in a few hours."

"Hey, he did not beat me up," replied Harry glaring. "I wounded him too."

Rose grinned. "So, if you're, Saiyan… and can transform and all that, can I transform like this… err, can I?"

"I can smell another power in you," said Sahara grinning at the thought. "I bet Shoulin and Hayne would like if you could transform like that… but, I smell… reptile, or something…"

Rose blushed sheepishly. "I was hoping Saiyan," she complained cutely.

Sahara smiled. "You have Saiyan blood too, so who knows."

"Do you think Hayne and Shoulin will help me, find out what I am?"

"Of course, they will," agreed Sahara. "I was talking to them alone Monday morning before they went home, and they really like you. Apparently, you're the only girl they've met who got over the fact that when you sleep together, you're allowing incest, and you're totally sexy and cute and sweet too, so just take care of them, okay?"

Rose blushed as bright-red as her hair. "Yes, of course, and well… err, it's just normal nature to them, okay, it's not a very fair part of it, but I really don't care," she replied defiantly. "And if nobody can accept that; it's their problem not ours."

Harry chucked, grinning proudly. "See, I knew I was a good matchmaker, but how are Hermione and Arctic?"

Rose grinned. "Hermione said she really likes him… and he gives her these looks that say that he likes her too, but getting a boy like him to verbally speak their feelings is hard work."

"That's my dippy brother for you," Sahara said to some laughter.

"Oh, Rose, did you get those cards?" asked Ginny suddenly, as she was really worried about Harry and Sahara and needed to get her mind off it.

"Oh, yeah," she agreed pulling them out of her pocket. "Come on Luna, Trace, Tori, Daph, let's take our minds off silly things," she said. "So, who's up for poker? I brought two decks," she asked and Harry grinned excitedly.

"Whoa," stalled Sahara. "We can't play poker against Harry; he'll beat us easily… we'll have to play a card game that involves luck rather than skill or he'll just win all the time and we'll all end up naked."

"Why would we end up naked?" asked Rose frowning in confusion.

"You know, when he wins a hand, we have to take an item of clothing off, der," replied Sahara as though that was obvious, embarrassing most of the girls.

"Well, we're not playing strip poker," giggled Rose, blushing.

"Oh," she said giggling nervously. "Normally we would play strip snap so we have a chance of winning."

"You play strip snap," laughed Rose. "Who with?"

"Oh, we've played it with the twins, once, and a few mage friends our age you've not met yet, a couple of demon friends, my cousin Ocean, and this amusing demigoddess whose biggest dream is to kick her godly dad in the balls," she replied thinking thoughtfully, and getting a few laughs. "It was actually her idea to change the game from poker to snap, as she was getting pissed off at Harry for winning most of the time. Oh, we'll have to all get together sometime, get a few decks of cards and have a game together."

Rose blushed brightly as she thought about it. "Are we allowed to get drunk?" she asked.

Sahara nodded. "Of course, it wouldn't be as fun without the drink. We play other games too, like spin the bottle, twister… once we even had a pool party at my family villa in Miami with all sorts of games and water fights and stuff with no grown-ups telling us what to do."

"You have a Villa in Miami?" asked Rose, impressed. "You should defiantly have another party. I've not been to a proper no adults allowed party before."

"That's an excellent idea," agreed Sahara nodding approvingly. "We'll have a party during the summer holiday. I'll send a letter home asking mum, as dad doesn't deal with those things, and always delegates decisions like that to mum, but she'll be okay with it."

"So where about do you live anyway?" asked Rose interestedly.

"Oh, yeah, you probably wouldn't have noticed at my house, as we Boom Bridged there," she grinned. "I live in Ireland, though we lived in England till I was eleven when dad wanted to move to a small peaceful village in the countryside, and he found what he considered the 'perfect spot', and with magic, you don't have to worry about it too much, as you can continue at your school, and still meet up with friends. Shoulin and Hayne still live in England near London."

"Are we going to start the card game?" interrupted Harry amusedly.

"Oh, sorry," said Rose grinning sheepishly, opening the cards. "What shall we play then?"

"Black Jack for money?" suggested Harry.

"Hah, no chance," retorted Sahara. "I know you like cheating at that Mr. I can transfigure the cards."

Harry grinned impishly. "So, I cheated that casino in Monty Carlo out of five million dollars doesn't mean I'll cheat you… plus the bastards deserved it."

"Oh, what did they do?" asked Astoria , as that caught her interest.

Sahara and Harry laughed. "They threw Ocean out for counting cards, then he went in and actually cheated, and because he was winning every hand without fail and always' bet big, and wasn't even looking at the cards 'most' times, they couldn't accuse him of counting cards, they even had three huge men watching him constantly, but funnily none of them checked our ages," Sahara told them.

"Awesome," said Ginny grinning proudly.

"Well, they shouldn't have been so mean when they threw Ocean out," Harry agreed smugly.

"Yeah, they were quite mean to her," agreed Sahara. "And since she's Harry's biggest fan, he had to make her feel better. Well, deal the cards, and we can play Rummy, as that's a game of chance." Soon they had played several games and Harry had won the majority without cheating, and it had been a few hours when June turned up halfway through with her 'best friend', giving her brother a tight hug, Harry allowed the younger girls to sit with him on his bed, so he could teach them some card games.

"I swear you're too good at card games," said Tracey in amazement, as Harry once again won the hand.

"Harry, Sahara, you're awake," chimed Shoulin and Hayne in relief, as they entered the hospital wing with Shoulin kissing Harry and Sahara on the cheek before she hopped up and sat with Sahara while Hayne only patted Harry on the shoulder, and gave Sahara a nod of greeting. They were followed by Professor Dumbledore who was smiling happily, his blue eyes twinkling in amusement.

They were also followed by a tall man with short greying blonde hair, and a large long red trench coat, his blue eyes twinkling just as much as Dumbledore's.

"Master Rochin!" Harry called in surprise.

"Daddy," chimed Sahara happily.

"Hello you two," he replied happy to see they were okay. "Your mums been worried sick sice Arctic said that psycho put you in hospital. And Harry, I'm very proud of you fighting him like that, and before you've fully mastered your new found powers, a most impressive feat to survive, Feareus… and Super Saiyan? The Council will be pleased; we'll need every bit of help we can get to re-capture him."

"Err, thanks, Rochin," he replied, embarrassed. "But it was nothing really; I was just doing what anyone would."

"Nonsense, Harry," he replied amusedly. "You said the same thing when you banished Morbeus," he chuckled proudly. "You don't take praise well; most would be wearing that meddle they gave you proudly."

"Too many people died," replied Harry sadly. "It seemed too much like a hollow victory."

Rochin walked up to Harry's bed and placed a hand on his shoulder with pride shining in his eyes. "That's what separates the truly great from the wannabees. It truly doesn't matter whether we get praised for our good deeds, but the people we help with them."

"Thanks," he replied shyly as Rochin moved away over to his daughter.

"And you missy," grinned Rochin. "Are a troublemaker… but I'm as proud of you as a father can be."

"Thanks dad," she replied blushing. "But what's the Council going to do about Feareus?"

"Ahh, well for now I'm their reprehension with the Casters World since we now have a mutual threat," he said grinning cheekily. "So, I'll be staying here for a while, and I'll be able to keep you two out of trouble and keep an eye on you… well that's what your mum wants, she'll be visiting weekends. Professor Dumbledore has kindly offered me an apartment here at the castle. Well, I'll be seeing you two later. I understand your brothers finally gotten himself a girlfriend and I would like to meet her and embarrass him... you know fatherly business," he grinned as he walked back to Dumbledore.

"Dad," moaned Sahara. "You're not really going to embarrass him, are you? He has a whole class of students right now."

"Oh, really," his grin widened and became a little sinister. "I'll have to see this; I bet he's going easy on them; I'll have to keep my eye on him. Well shall we Albus?"

Dumbledore chuckled in amusement. "Certainly, the DC class is this way if you'll follow me," he said leading the way.

"Oh, poor Arctic," giggled Shoulin as she slipped off Sahara's bed, and surprised Rose as she slid gracefully onto her lap for a cuddling. "I'm glad my dad wasn't chosen to come here. Sometimes I wish they never accepted positions in the Council. I think they only did it to have extra opportunities to embarrass us. At least our mums only work as Watchers for magical creatures."

Sahara nodded sadly. "I know, your mum still works with mine with the Harpies, don't she?"

"I think she does," piped in Hayne as he sat on the edge of Harry's bed after stealing a kiss from Rose to her delight at her affectionate boyfriend and girlfriend. "So, Harry you really fought Feareus," he asked impressed.

"Yeah, well I wouldn't be in here if it was just Death Eaters now, would I?" he retorted rolling his eyes.

Hayne chuckled nervously. "I guess not, just wanted to hear it from the Saiyans mouth so to speak."

"Oh, talking about that," interrupted Sahara. "Rose wanted you and Shoulin to help her find out whether she can awaken too? Being as she's Harry's twin, it seems logical. And if she can, you two will have to sort her out, if you know what I mean?"

"Oh, we'll help," agreed Shoulin, kissing her surprised girlfriends lips while Hayne nodded in agreement. "But I don't know what you mean by sorting out."

Sahara rolled her eyes. "It happens to all Brood, and if Harry wasn't joking, Saiyans too, around the age of fifteen, and you two helped each other, and my idiot brother locked himself in his room... luckily the internet was pretty speedy," she giggled as they blushed brightly realising what she meant.

"Err, I'm confused?" said Rose frowning.

"To put it bluntly, you may go into heat," answered Sahara grinning as Rose blushed brightly.

"Well, which of you did Harry have?" asked Rose embarrassing his girls.

"Hahahaha, he had all four of them," said Hayne laughing as he looked over Ginny, Luna, Sahara, and Daphne.

"Shut up," said Harry glaring as he climbed out of bed, only wearing his trousers, he stretched out his arms and legs, and even tail.

"Holy crap," declared Shoulin. "I've never seen muscles that powerful before. Saiyans were truly something else."

Harry shrugged nonchalant. "Well, I'm out of here. I'm going to my class to get my staff, since I haven't got anything, I can do without hurting myself I'm gonna try and learn some Caster magic, or how to beat someone to death with her."

"Oh, we'll come too," said Sahara climbing out of bed wearing her gi bottoms, but only her spandex under top, neither wearing shoes or soaks. She fully stretched the cranked her muscles in her shoulders and wings, and tail as she was still transformed as it would help recovery. "Come on, I can't wait to watch Harry screw up."

"Hey," he moaned as he led their laughing party away. "I might be brilliant first try, and even if I'm not, practice makes perfect, right, Gin?" he asked putting his arm around her.

"Exactly," she agreed with a grin as she put her arm around his waist. "And you'll have me, Luna, Daphne, Tracey, Astoria, Rose, Gabby, and June to help."

"See," he grinned sticking his tongue out. "Ouch," he moaned after her tail whipped his butt. "Do you want me to return the favour?"

"Whoa, hell no," she said looking fearful. "You could knock me through a wall with your tail with your strength if you're not super careful," she said as she felt it rubbing against her. They all laughed amusedly.

"You two should perhaps put some more clothes on?" suggested Rose, realising they were almost at the class.

"What!" demanded Harry shaking his head. "My muscles are aching; it will hurt too much," he said as he opened the classroom door finding Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, and Arctic standing near his dad, while he looked to be trying to get all of the students to use some magic.

"Come on," moaned Rochin. "Combat fire is the easiest element to use. Burn the air, click those sparks into life," he said raising his hand, and clicking his fingers, with a spark, he was forming a ball of fire before it extinguished. "Just want the fire, ask for it, that's it, Daniel, you've got it, see that he's done it," he said grinning proudly as the boy stared in awe and shock of the small ball of fire in his hand.

"What are you doing?" asked Harry standing next to him, suddenly all the students, mostly the girl's eyes bulged out of their heads as they stared at him.

"Oh, hey Harry," he grinned. "I was just teaching them how to use some Elemental Magic."

Harry shook his head in amusement. "I wasn't going to start them on stuff like that until next month."

Rochin shrugged, grinning cheekily. "So, you got let loose, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you and Sahara go to 'your', 'room', and get some rest?" he asked making it perfectly clear that he knew Harry and Sahara were staying in the same room. "Look at you, you have a black eye, several large and horrible looking bruises on your body, and your heads wrapped in bandages."

Harry blushed. "I err, just came to get my staff, as Dumbledore didn't like it smashing through walls to come to my call, as she doesn't know how to use the doors," he said. "We'll leave then," he said heading for his desk, opening his top draw he pulled out the metal looking rod the size of a wand. "And before anyone smarts off, teachers are allowed wands out in this class." He glared at Arctic.

"How'd you even know I was gonna say something," he asked.

"I know you too well, mate," chuckled Harry. "I also know Shoulin was going to say the same thing.

She giggled guiltily. "Well, it would have been funny."

"Totally," agreed Rose. "I was going to as well."

"Hey, can you lot go now," interrupted Rochin. "You've already interrupted the flow of my lesson."

"Okay okay, we're going," said Sahara as she grabbed Harry by the arm and they all followed. "Bye dad, see you at dinner."

Dumbledore sat watching amusedly, he sure had never met a more interesting group of people before, and listening to Rochin explain combat magic was very fascinating. It seemed a shame that he had to meet these people under such dangerous times; it seemed there was a lot to learn from them, compared with the small bit from his world.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" said Harry swishing his staff in wand form, and flicking, levitating a quill. They were practising in the library; however, the librarian did not appreciate all the noise so moved on to Harry's common room.

"Brilliant. I think you've got that one down," chimed Rose excitedly.

"Yeah," agreed Ginny happily giving him a kiss that seemed to be going overboard.

"Hey," moaned Sahara. "You're supposed to be learning spells with your staff, not how far down Gin's throat you can stick your tongue," she said giggling as they pulled away grinning impishly.

"Okay then, what next?" asked Harry. "How about summoning and banishing things?"

"Okay," agreed Rose. "Just like this," she said readying her wand. "Accio book," she said and a book the other side of the room flew into her hands. She then returned the book. "Now you try."

Harry nodded. "Accio book," he said waving his staff. The book wobbled but didn't do much else, frowning he tried again. "Accio book!" he tried louder. The book wobbled more this time but stayed put. "It won't come," he said sadly.

"Of course, it will," said Luna nodding supportively. "I'm sure you can get it this time; you'll get a kiss if you do."

Harry grinned. "Accio book!" he said, the book flew at him and he caught it. "Ha, I did it," he said eagerly as he claimed his kiss from Luna, snogging her for a minute.

"Well, we know how to motivate you now," said Shoulin giggling amusedly, as he had quite a few girls eager to pay him for his improvements.

Harry shrugged while grinning impishly. "So, what's next?"

Soon he could summon, banish and levitate objects, but he found transfiguration easy being able to do small things without a wand, and each time, one of his girl's kissed him eagerly for accomplishing his tasks.

to be continued…