See first chapter for disclaimers/warnings/summaries. 'Bold' text indicates "Spanish" for certain characters.
NOTE: Some of the characters presented within this chapter are merely there for the sake of moving Theo, Charlie and Harry from point A to point B, you do not have to remember them, really.
RECAP: Blaise, Hermione, Severus, Terius, Harry, Charlie, Theo and Shadow arrive in Nevarah and stay at the Snape's home, where Harry worries about Hermione and spends the first night snuggled between his two mates. In the morning, he meets Draco's surrogate(Carrier), a Spanish beauty named Calida, who happily shares some Dragel information with him. Theo takes Charlie and Harry with him to be registered as Nevarah citizens before visiting a Healer.
NEVARAH : INSIDE THE CITY : TUESDAY AFTERNOON
"That took longer than I expected." Theo frowned, checking his pocketwatch, before tucking it back in his robes. He cast the customary glance around himself, one to see where Harry was and the next to see where Charlie hovered. The fire dragel was no more comfortable than Theo had felt at first, shying away faintly from others as they made their way through the crowded walkways of Nevarah. Theo reasoned it had to do more with his sensitive wings out than any real fear, as Charlie seemed to take an inordinate amount of caution in keeping his wings as carefully folded as he could and out of the way.
They had yet to fade into the tattooed marks that would afford him some semblance of privacy and modesty. Theo had to admit that Charlie was definitely quite good-looking and he had growled a few times from a few wide-eyed stares. Charlie's neck was bared for all to see—Theo had thought of that when he'd transfigured the shirt his beta was wearing—but the visible site of his mating marks hadn't deterred some folk.
Harry seemed to have picked up on Charlie's discomfort as he bridged the gap between the redhead and Theo, often with occasional brushes against their hand and a smile or two in their direction, enough to keep them properly distracted. Theo noted, pleased, that Charlie kept a watchful eye on Harry, able to scowl away a few possible interruptions on his own.
Nevarah was bustling and alive, with people, dragels and creatures of all kinds, colors and age bustling back and forth. It was comforting, in a way, Theo mused. He had spent a handful of years here, enough for the wariness to fade within the first few hours out and about. There were plenty of regulars and plenty of visitors, the differences obvious in the various scents wafting through the air and the different dialects floating by his ears. He had seen a few familiar faces, but as said faces hadn't seen him, Theo had opted to keep his anonymity in the crowd and deliberately led his mates elsewhere.
They bypassed a bustling outdoor marketplace, that immediately attracted both Harry and Charlie, Theo was forced to coax them away with promises that they might return the next day or sometime during the week. He made a mental note to himself then, to keep track of the time. Four days in Nevarah was equal to a single day in the outside realm, that would afford them some time. It was one way he'd managed to spend more time training his Dragel side before venturing back to the wizarding world and enrolling in Hogwarts. Time well spent, he mused to himself, checking again to be sure that his mates were keeping up.
Harry seemed amazed by the buildings and the bustlings, his steps sometimes slow and shuffling as his neck craned back and he peered up into the sky, squinting through his classes and every so often, he stepped a little closer to Theo and Charlie, as some of the busier folk brushed past.
He'd kept his glasses on for appearances—back in the Wizarding World and Theo was faintly irritated, wondering when he'd take them off and get rid of them. He obviously didn't need them and it didn't take a genius to figure out that they were an annoyance. With a sigh, Theo reached over and plucked them off, banishing them with a discreet wave of his wand up his sleeve. At the rate things were going, Harry could accidentally poke himself in the eye—no thanks to a wandering elbow or rushing passerby.
"Wha-hey!" Harry protested, temporarily disoriented, but steadied by a timely hand from Charlie and the softest brush of his mate's wing. "Theo!" He threw a dirty look towards said mate, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it had come when something glittering in the distance caught his attention.
Theo perked a brow in answer and tapped Harry's pert nose with one slender finger. "Give it a moment and they'll adjust." He said, simply. "What are you looking at?"
"But-" Harry bumped the finger lightly in response, his bright green eyes flickering away at something else. "That thing over there," he mumbled, his mind already off puzzling on the new distraction.
"You can see?" Charlie stared down at him in surprise. He grinned, an expression that seemed to take over his whole face, before he suddenly wrinkled his nose at a new scent passing by.
It was a look Theo had quickly learned to pick up from both of them. "What is it this time?" He inquired, patiently. "Scent or sight?"
"Scent…" Charlie murmured, he wrinkled his nose with a slight grimace.
"It's kind of sweet and…syrupy?" Harry wrinkled his nose in similar fashion, immediately picking up Charlie's puzzle. "Theo?"
"Where?" Theo leaned to the side, following his beta's line of sight and taking a good whiff. He was silent for a second and then shrugged. "That would be the Vampires." He said, calmly. The green-eyed beauty gave a sudden start as if he'd been electrified.
"Vampire?" Harry said, very quietly. "There's Vampires here?"
"And Weres, Shifters, Merfolk, Hellhounds and more." Theo perked a brow. "This is Nevarah, this is very little discrimination here. We do not hold anything against other kind, as long as they are abiding by our rules here, they are welcome to reside within city walls, courtesy of their circle."
"Werewolves?" Harry asked, quietly. He craned his neck, breathing quickening to short pants as if searching for something.
"Harry?"
"Werewolves." The smaller green-eyed teen had grown rather still. "That's what that other scent is, right? The darker one? The one that smells like you."
"Me?" Theo blinked.
"Earth." Harry corrected.
"Oh." Theo took another deep breath. "It is, actually." Theo's brows knitted together. "How did you know?"
"They smell…familiar."
"Familiar how?" Charlie wrinkled his nose again, working to separate the scents as they paused on the edge of the lighted sidewalk.
"Moony." Harry whispered, faintly, his eyes faraway in remembrance. I miss you…
"I hope we didn't run out of time." Theo checked his pocketwatch again, only to have it taken from his worrying hands by Charlie and tucked into the front pocket of Harry's wizarding robes. He sighed, but didn't protest. His hands did tend to show up his nerves when he was more frazzled than he cared to be and while he was trying his best, it was hard not to worry about Harry. He was looking forward to this Healer's appointment almost as much as his partially wound-up mates.
They all wanted answers and hoped to find at least several.
"Is it that bad?" Harry looked at him, worriedly. "I mean, we could always come back tomorrow, right?"
Theo half-smiled. "We can." He admitted, letting Harry slip a reassuring hand into his as they continued at a rather brisk pace, all sight-seeing brought to an abrupt halt. "But I would really rather not."
"I can manage another night." Charlie said, hesitantly. His eyes said otherwise, but he was making an effort anyway. His wings fluttered faintly, vibrating as if they'd like to stretch out, but didn't dare.
Harry flashed him a grin. "I'm sure we'll make it on time…"
"I didn't think registering you two would take so long." Theo muttered, frowning. "Then again, it is Hunting Season."
"Is it really such a big deal?" Harry asked.
The young alpha thought for a moment, before he shrugged. "It depends. I have you two, it no longer seems quite as pressing as it once was."
"Pressing how?"
"Can't you feel it?" Theo countered. "All the magic, the power, the allure of it? Rather difficult to resist when it is calling out to you, teasing, taunting and mocking almost. It is a very important time for many of us."
At that, the other two fell silent.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to 'port in?" Charlie inquired, as they strolled up the reception desk in the large health clinic. Theo hadn't wanted to visit the hospitals, explaining that while they were perfectly acceptable, the smaller health clinics specialized in specific maladies or creatures, in their case, rituals and wizard-raised individuals
"Couldn't." Theo said, simply, drawing out the documents he'd been to sign along with his identification card. He held out his hand to Harry and Charlie, waiting for them to hand over thiers as well. "Transportation portals are tricky. They are not as simple as apparition, it requires a little something more and a definite affinity with a specific power. I have never been here and thus, like apparition, I need a point or specific place to hold in my mind, before I throw out a name and place. If I had the address of their transportation room, that is another story."
"Like a Floo?" Harry thought, digging the new identification card out of his robes and handing it over, as Charlie did the same.
"Something like that." Theo shrugged. "That is why there is always an advantage to knowing a person's full name, you can 'port directly to their side—within reason—and you must always know what you are getting yourself into." He sorted the papers and cards, then looked up as they approached.
A blonde woman with pink lipstick stared across the counter at them and then over their heads. "We're closed for today." She said, at last, picking up a metal bottle from beneath the counter and taking a rather unladylike swig. "Try again tomorrow." She pushed the papers back over the counter and turned away.
Theo looked from her and then behind them to the revolving doors where they had just entered. He was in time to see the lightened sign over the door flicker from "open" to "closed." He frowned, faintly. "It would seem as if we made it in time." He pushed the papers back. "This is important."
The woman stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "It's always important." She huffed. "And like I said, we're closed. Nothing we can do about it. See you tomorrow."
Theo's golden eyes flickered faintly and he stood taller. "Surely there is something you can do."
"Surely there isn't." The woman countered, her pale blue eyes narrowed faintly. "Now look here, Mr…" She glanced down at the papers for his name.
"Gorgens." Theo said calmly, quietly, the faintest glint in his golden eyes. "Mr. Theodore Gorgens."
"Nott." The woman hastily corrected. "Theodore Gorgens Nott."
"Oretta prefers that I leave her name out of things." Theo returned, smoothly. "Surely there is a way to fit us in today? It is most urgent." He gestured towards Charlie who stood behind him and Harry, with his wings partially flared. "
"Gorgens?" She repeated.
"Lady Ilsa Gorgens, if you would be so kind?" Theo's strained smile said more than he might have.
The woman shuffled some papers behind the counter before snatching up the proffered stack and turning away to enter the information in the magically updating ledgers. "We really are closed." She growled, flipping through the pages, signing and stamping them furiously, with more force than needed. "In case you have forgotten, we are in the middle of the hunt and tonight is the First Walking."
"Then perhaps if your fingers were moving as fast as your mouth," Theo suggested, helpfully.
The answer was a sudden, wordless snarl before a cool, composed voice halted the interaction. "Ah, more patients?" The voice came from a white-haired woman in a standard dress uniform of white and burgundy, with a golden insignia emblazoned on the upper left of her sleeves. "I had thought I'd sent for the last escort a few minutes ago."
"Just a few stragglers trying to bribe their way in." The blonde woman bit off, her pink lips still curled in a half-snarl. "Shall I throw them out?"
"Now, Mimei, that is rather rude of you. We welcome all of our patients, no matter what the ailment or the time." The older woman's smile was bright and cheerful, though her eyes held a hint of warning. She had just come through the glass doors to the right of the reception desk, with words 'restricted' painted across the front and a bright blinking light from the card reader at the side of the doors. "Must I report your behavior to your circle's Captain Garrow?" It was said with a long-suffering sigh. "I thought you were beginning to fit in quite well, I suppose I was mistaken."
The blonde Mimei blanched, her entire body becoming rigid, her eyes flashing with suppressed fire. "It is quite fine, Matron Olivia." She lifted her chin.
"Very well then. I am sure that Healer Quinnten can fit them in his busy schedule, do add it to their card." Matron Olivia smiled pleasantly. "I shall send Dahlia to come and escort them in, do wait a moment." With a slight dip of her head, the elderly woman turned and disappeared down the hall she had previously come.
Mimei's angry face grew somewhat pale as she touched her wand to the stack of papers and printed out small, green appointment cards. "You cruel and devious woman." She said, coldly. "As least I would've told them that there was no one to see them rather than foisting them upon some foolish, prodigy without a half-pence's weight of a brain or talent!" With a huff, she threw three green cards on the counter and stalked out from behind the desk and towards the front doors. "A guard will come for you." She threw over her shoulder. "Do as they say and do keep an eye out."
Charlie bristled faintly as she passed behind them, but he stilled at Harry's hand in his and a warning glance from Theo. The redhead didn't miss the way the Slytherin's golden gaze followed her to the front doors and then beyond as she turned the locks and all but stormed out of the clinic.
"Excuse me, we're closed." A cheerful voice cut through to the pensive trio hovering in front of the glass doors as they slid open.
Harry turned to see who was speaking this time and he was pleasantly surprised to find himself staring back into warm brown, cat-eyes and a young woman no taller than himself. She was dressed somewhat oddly, in a long, silken robe, loosely tied about the waist, showing off lovely tanned skin beneath. Her hair, a thick braid of black was flung carelessly over one shoulder and one hand hovered to the right of her waist as if waiting for something. The main reason that drew Harry's attention was the scaled, pointed ridge along her forehead and neck, just like Ilsa's had been and the very obvious scar stretching from the tip of her left eyebrow, down the curve of her cheek and disappearing along her shoulder, hidden by the robe.
Fighter. Harry's brain supplied. Gheyo. His Dragel added. Very experienced too to have survived such a wound and accept a scar…
The eyes seemed to light with humor as she matched Harry's stare and her skin seemed to ripple. "Good afternoon to you all. I don't mean to be rude, but we really are closed…?" Her voice trailed off as Theo held up the three appointment cards. The girl's brow furrowed into a knot of confusion and worry, before she took the cards and swiped them one at a time through the reader. "I am sorry, I did not think that Quinn was honestly seeing anyone else today, he should have canceled, he's dead on his feet right now." She sighed. "Ach, where are my manners? Do call me Dahlia, I answer to it faster than anything else. Please follow and stay close behind. It is the end of the day and I fear most of us are on our last threads of sanity."
Dhalia led them through the doors and down shiny white walls. Everything screamed of being clean, sterile and precise, a cold impersonal touch that Harry wasn't quite sure he liked. But he had spent enough time under Madam Pomfrey's care to know a few things about healing and hospital wards. If the impressive white everywhere was anything to go by, then perhaps, the healers here would know what they were doing. If anything, at least they took their healing seriously.
The earlier outburst from the receptionist, Mimei, made him scowl as he wondered just what kind of healer he'd been assigned to see and what exactly had Theo so worried. While he hadn't minded going out with his mates and being in the thick of Dragel society—which reminded him more of an extremely busy muggle London—Charlie had been wary and Theo'd been on edge. Harry had silently counted himself as the rational one in spite of all his rather obvious shortcomings. He sighed.
Dahlia had led them into a large waiting lounge, with colored corded ropes partitioning out various walkways that led to one of eight doors on the far end of the wall. There were couches and tables and chairs set along the two side walls and several young men and women in various armored wear, hovering near their respective 'lines' as the last few patients were sent through.
Harry stared.
The patients were obvious in terms that he could scent a vampire or two and at least one Were creature and they were huddled together in their respective circles looking quite exhausted and miserable.
The fighters were easy enough to single out as they all wore the same dark burgundy robe as Dahlia had, bearing the gold crested insignia on the left shoulder. They all seemed on edged and Harry could easily understand the earlier remark of the final threads of sanity. He could feel himself joining their ranks as prickles of unease danced up and down his shoulders.
He wondered why it was arranged that way and it was enough to make his head spin as he tried to figure it out and failed, before turning to Theo, who was now rubbing his forehead a little harder than necessary, the faintest hint of a grimace on his face.
"Theo?"
"Just a headache." Theo half-smiled, his look softening, when Harry tipped his head towards the sword-equipped soldiers scattered throughout the room in silent question. He rubbed his neck and wrists a moment later, the agitated look remaining, even as he answered the silent question. "They are fighters, Gheyos—sometimes mates can be a little too protective when they are in need of a healer, so there are unrelated fighters who help to keep the more…boisterous ones at bay. A healer has little to no fighting prowess or experience, their spells and gifts are solely to heal, the Royal Council assigns a specific fighter to each healer or healer team, so ensure that there are no unnecessary fights or bloodshed."
"Isn't that a little paranoid?" Charlie eyed one of the young men, a Dragel larger than himself, with rich black, glittering scales and flecks of red along the spines. His sword was unsheathed and he was currently scraping his clawed hands along the ebony-hued surface, a strange glint gleaming in his eyes.
"Oi, Wikhn, quit scaring people." Dahlia scowled. "If you want to show off your new sword, do it in the rings or cages. I don't need to have things to worry about right now."
The black Dragel in question, Wikhn, merely perked a brow then rose and calmly tucked the sword back into its ornate sheath. "Terribly sorry, Lady Dahlia." His voice was somewhat mocking. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Yeah you did, you big brute." The girl retorted, but her friendly demeanor remained as she strolled up to the corded off passage, third from the left. "I'll check to see if Quinn's last one is out, if they are, then just follow through when I yell, m'kay?" Dahlia trotted off and the trio remained where she left them.
Several minutes later, shouts and scuffles announced a disturbance behind one of the doors. Harry was surprised to see Wikhn leap to his feet, his eyes losing the odd light and his expression turning grim as he strode towards one of the doors behind the roped off sections.
Silence reigned.
A moment later, the door he'd entered burst open and he backed out, dragging two taller figures by the collars. He pulled them away from the door and laid them, carefully on the ground, before returning to the room and exiting again, this time with two more figures. He laid them out on the ground beside them and then gave a nod to the door.
A pretty little blonde gave a teary smile in return and turned back to face a white-and-burgundy clad healer, once more offering her a vial of potion. Wikhn sighed, settling down on the floor, his arm propped up on his knee and his chin resting in his hand. "You'd think they'd learn." He grumbled, turning away from the sight.
Harry felt his stomach pale and clench at the sight of the four figures lifeless and spread out for all to see.
"They're alive, Harry. Shh." Theo soothed, his own issues forgotten as he wrapped an arm around Harry and drew him close. Charlie shuffled over to share the impromptu half-embrace.
"W-what'd they do?"
"Something they shouldn't, I'd expect." Theo murmured. "Relax."
Harry felt himself shiver in response, a weary sigh tugging from his lips. Why couldn't the day be over already?
When Dahlia yelled a few minutes later, Harry had never been so relieved to have his feet working without his conscious consent. He hurried towards what had to be the examination room, glad to leave the tension-filled atmosphere of the waiting lounge behind.
"Anything happen?" Dahlia ushered him into the room and towards the examination table, a foam-green padded table with a stretch of clean paper drawn over the surface to ensure sterility. Her soft brow eyes narrowed faintly, before she waved in Theo and Charlie, before sticking her head out the door. She muttered and grumbled a few things beneath her breath before she straightened. "Quinn will be in just now. I'll be back in a minute, don't bother about Wikhn, it really isn't so bad in here, but honestly that idiot is just begging for his head on a platter! I've told him about knocking heads around." She disappeared through the doorway and then returned a quick moment later—to lock the door behind her—with a wink. "Holler if you need me." This was directed to Harry. "No matter what it is. Name's Dahlia, remember it, love." The door clicked shut behind her.
Harry blinked.
Charlie shrugged.
Theo almost smiled. "They are very serious." He explained, at last. "If you wish to have your examinations in private or to undergo a procedure I do not fully agree with—a partial disagreement—then you may ask to have me formally and physically removed from the examination room. If I resist or protest, your wishes will be enforced. The same is true for me, but the protection is mostly for those beneath an alpha's rank."
"So the girl…?" Harry trailed off, remembering the teary smile. She'd smiled at Wikhn, even as her four mates had been stretched out on the ground and guarded by a scowling fellow in black, she'd been smiling and grateful. He shuddered this time. He really didn't understand this place.
Harry took note of the examination room, rather large compared to what he knew of Madam Pomfrey and St. Mungo's, but he guessed the excessive size was due to being Dragel friendly. There was room for him to comfortably stretch his wings and probably to do backflips as well if he wanted to.
A sudden, warm fuzzy feeling rippled over him. He blinked in surprise, trying and failing to place what exactly it was. Like a wave of warmth, it swirled around him, caressing, touching and soothing, before settling down, stretching over the entire room and pushing out gentle waves of relaxation and calmness.
"Did you-?" Harry heard himself say.
Theo's tense shoulders relaxed a fraction of a section and he gave the faintest tilt of his head in answer. Charlie's eyebrows arched clear into his hairline as he looked around him, perhaps expecting to see the actual thing that had suddenly filtered into the room and brightened them all up.
Harry couldn't deny that it felt quite wonderful and very welcomed. It was almost like eating chocolate from Remus, it brightened and strengthened him, reminding that there was still good, life, love and happiness somewhere in the world. It soothed his raw, stressed nerves and Harry silently basked in it as long as he dared.
Charlie twitched beside him and Harry's green eyes flickered to him. They hadn't had much time together at all, as a trio. There were tiny little nuances and quirks he'd discovered today as they'd gone to get themselves registered at the Nevarah City Hall and subtle little exchanges between the redhead and brunet, when he didn't really expect it. Theo had automatically included Charlie in his short 'bouts of 'smothering' as Harry decided to call it.
He was glad, Harry realized, to see that they were at least getting along, as far as not fighting—verbally or physically—and Theo had been considerate in his own way, making sure they were both comfortable and rested throughout the busy day—especially for Charlie's extended wings. Now as they waited, Theo's hands reached towards one rich navy-hued wing and gently ran his fingers over the appendage in soft, soothing strokes.
Charlie visibly trembled, his eyelids fluttering shut, enjoying the attentions.
Harry smiled, softly.
The warm, comforting feeling grew stronger and thicker suddenly.
A door on the opposite room banged open and a young fellow bustled in, wearing an outfit of tunic and breeches, bearing the same insignia as Matron Olivia had. His arms were laden with potion vials, paper-wrapped bundles and a silver lunch tin swinging from one pinky finger. He froze as he caught sight of the trio and then blinked, comically, before backing towards the very door he'd just closed and raised a finger, pressing it to his lips to pantomime silence.
For a long moment, they all stared at each other.
The curly-headed blond eyed them for a good moment, then started forward, his head tilted back, listening carefully until a muffled voice came from the other side of the door. The blond immediately threw his weight back to keep the door shut, a mischievous smile playing about his lips. The voice whined and shouted, then stilled after a moment.
Cautiously, he started forward again and then sent his armful down on one of the broad countertops lining the walls. He fished inside his tunic pocket and drew out a green card then tapped it lightly and cocked his head.
"Ah, we're here to see Healer Quinnten." Theo held up his card as Charlie and Harry did the same.
The blond relaxed almost at once, his teal-colored eyes still alight with merriment as he picked up a paper wrapped bundle and chucked it towards the door.
His timing was impeccable, as the door opened and the bundle hit a young man square in the face.
"Quinn!" The fuming young man spat strands of dark-green dyed hair out of his mouth, his fiery brown eyes flashing. "What in Arielle's name was that for?"
Quinn turned him with a rather mild expression on his face and shrugged.
"W-wha?" The green-haired teen sputtered helplessly for a moment and then threw up his hands. "Because you felt like it? Because you bloody felt like-oh why do I bother?" He looked to the ceiling as he said this, then bent down and picked up the paper wrapped bundle. "And would you please quit pawning your dinner off on me? Mum can tell when I'm not eating hers." He sniffed the bundle and brightened. "Ooh, that's my favorite. Thanks. Wait, what do you mean Ellen put you up to it? I apologized to her—twice! It was an accident, I wasn't flirting, I was-" He blushed a bright, bold red. "Yes I meant it! I wouldn't have repeated it if I didn't mean it-!" His potential tirade was called off when Quinn's tapping fingers along the counter drew his attention, as well as the head jerk towards the near silent trio.
His eyes grew large and wide, before he offered a quick little bow from the waist, his eyes focused on them. "Good afternoon, I am Medic Kyle, Healer Quinn's assistant. That is Healer Quinn, he is not as touched in the head as he may appear. My apologizes on both of our sides for that rather…unprofessional display." He chucked what appeared to be a wrapped sandwich, towards Quinn and strode forward, hand extended. "May I see your appointment cards?"
Quinn caught the sandwich and set it down on the counter as he went about organizing the potions he'd brought over. Kyle took the cards and flipped through them with a half-frown. "Did Matron Olivia sign these to you personally?" He inquired, brown eyes still flashing, this time a tad darker than before.
"Is something wrong?" Harry spoke up, reading the tension in the room the only way that he could. He didn't like it and he really didn't want to deal with any kind of weirdness now.
Kyle's gaze flickered to him and his brow furrowed even more. "No, not really. Just that we didn't have any more patients scheduled today, because Quinn is magically exhausted. I do hope you're not all here for a complete scan." He nibbled on his lower lip. "I am qualified to see to it, but I am not quite as thorough as Quinn and it would certainly be worth a return trip to have his expertise. He will recover overnight, nothing a bit of sleep can't fix. There's been a recent surge for vaccines and intra-creature ah, well, I am sure you do not need to hear of that, but there are wizards living among us and they are not quite as immune as the rest of us." He sighed. "On second thought, is this your first visit to a Dragel Healer? You look as if I'm going to eat you alive."
There was no answer. Theo sighed. "I have been before, but it was years ago. These two have not, we have recently come from City Hall and would have arrived sooner, but it is quite busy out there."
"Mm, I know." Kyle gave a rueful smile. "That's quite alright, I'll do what I can for today, if you don't mind that is." He tapped the cards lightly. "Quinn?"
There was no answer from the blond who had yet to stop with his organizing the potions along the wall rack.
"Hmm. Okay." Kyle motioned towards the examination bed. "Who wants to be first?"
Harry elbowed Charlie, even as the redhead spoke, saying "Harry."
Kyle gave a half-smile and a wise shake of his head. "That never works you know." He said cheerfully. "How about you with the wings then, Sir?" He drew near, fiddling with a knob on the control panel near the examination bed. The lights in the room brightened and dimmed according to his tinkerings. "Are you magic-sensitive? Any phobias, sensitivities, allergies or declarations I should know?"
"Declarations?" The redhead moved forward and hefted himself up onto the exam bed. His wings twitched and quivered, now that they were no longer subject to Theo's soothing touches. "My name is Charlie."
"Your rank?" Kyle wandlessly summoned a pad of parchment and a quill, his fingers hovering. "Charlie," he added, quickly.
"Beta." Theo answered, quietly.
Kyle's gaze immediately snapped to him. "And you must be the…?"
"Alpha." Harry interjected, when it didn't seem like Theo was about to answer. "That makes me the Sub." He finished, wearily.
"Wonderful." Kyle flashed a brief smile, his attention returning to Charlie. "Declarations are if your Alpha has you under restriction for any reason or if there are any particular movements, gestures, phrases or nuances we, as your medical providers, should be aware of." He raised an eyebrow expectantly. "Are there?"
Theo's golden gaze narrowed. "I would prefer if you did not keep a running conversation of pointless-"
Quinn turned around from his station and immediately went to Kyle's side, slapping a hand over the green-haired Dragel's mouth. His own teal eyes flashed meaningfully for a moment and then he turned Kyle around and gave him a push towards a room corner bearing a single, swivel stool.
There was a heavy sigh as the assistant went. "Quinn, you don't have to do this. It's been a long day. I know you're tired. I can actually conduct a basic-" Kyle stopped speaking. A moment later, he muttered something to which Quinn's eyes narrowed and the Healer flicked his fingers over his shoulder.
Harry could've sworn he'd thrown a stinging hex at the yelp and half-run that the assistant gave as he shuffled to a corner of the room and took a seat on the lone stool there, his back facing the room and its occupants. It almost made him laugh—almost.
Quinn's gaze flickered from Theo to Charlie and then he held out his hands showing they were empty and then twisted to wash his hands in the handsink just a few feet away. He then pulled on a pair of latex gloves and waited, finally throwing a glance over his shoulder to what appeared to be a slightly sulking Kyle.
The green-head sighed. "This is Healer Quinn. Please excuse my idiotic assist—QUINN!"
The blond didn't flinch or blink before Kyle finally spun the stool around, a glower fixed on his face and a slender wand in his hand. "Again," he began, through slightly gritted teeth. "Do excuse our unprofessionalism. Quinn is…mute. He does not speak." The brown eyes watched carefully as he spoke. "We share a mental connection, so I am his voice at all times. I will be sitting over here," he gestured to himself. "And I will be speaking exactly what Quinn says, within reason." There was a warning note in his voice, but this was directed to the blond who finally gave an apologetic look, to which the green-head grudgingly nodded. "If you have any questions, now would be a great time to speak your mind." With that, Kyle swiveled around on the stool and waited.
There was a moment of silence and then Kyle's voice sounded, but instead of coming from the corner, it seemed to be coming from right over Quinn's shoulder.
Harry looked from Healer to Assistant, but couldn't see the wand movement nor hear the spell that had been cast for it. He frowned inwardly, taking another glance at Theo who was now looking rather pale.
"Shirt off, please. Are you allergic to latex?"
Charlie shook his head, beginning to undo the buttons on his shirt. "Not that I know of."
"Good. Blink twice, please."
Charlie managed that, surprised to find his eyes drawn to the suddenly fiery gaze of the Healer, whose teal orbs seemed fathomless for several brief seconds.
"Good. Mouth open?"
The strange stare was broken as the next command was given and Charlie obediently held his mouth open as Quinn's gloved fingers darted quickly inside. He coaxed Charlie's fangs to the surface and testing them, carefully before giving an approving nod and switching his attention to the extended wings.
"Very good. Now, your wings were forced out and your spines have been stretched twice, if once, correct?" Without waiting for an answer, Quinn moved around him, brisk and efficient as he circled the taller Dragel once, before drawing something from the folds of his innertunic, a medium-sized black cross pendant on a silver chain. He pointed it at Charlie and a moment later, a thin, golden light shot from the top, a visible scan.
The quill and pad that Kyle had abandoned on the counter, hovered to life and began frantically scribbling away as Quinn waved the pendant around, taking several different diagnostics and readings. Charlie laughed out loud at one that apparently tickled and shivered at another, that left him sneezing twice.
Quinn silently handed him a tissue, the teal eyes narrowing faintly as he felt along each webbed space, probing, squeezing and stroking with careful, impersonal fingers. His expression remained neutral, even when he procured a spray bottle from the counter and poured something inside of it, mixing it with water and turning to Kyle, who threw a warming charm over his shoulder, to the bottle.
Satisfied, Quinn began to spray the wings and gently tug on each spine, stretching and pulling it into a more natural position until the broad wings were well beyond the length of the examination table.
"This is a muscle relaxant spray," Kyle began. "I take it there was something that disturbed you on a subconscious level to leave such a reaction?"
Charlie rolled his shoulders backwards, casting a glance to Theo who was leaning against the wall near the doorjamb, his golden eyes watchful. "An unexpected situation." He said, smoothly.
"I see."
Quinn continued until the bottle was empty. As the blond searched for something in one of the cabinets, Kyle turned the stool around to cast a drying charm and another warming charm, waiting until his partner straightened up and returned to Charlie's side a bottle of thick oil in hand. Quinn poured a generous handful in one palm, giving the bottle to Charlie to hold as he circled 'round behind the redhead and began to let it dribble down his back. He worked the muscles carefully and then coaxed the wings to fold back.
Moving around to the front, Quinn summoned a silver knife from the counter and beckoned to Theo. The golden-eyed Dragel inched forward, wearily, but bared his wrist and held it out. Quinn, touched the flat of the knife to the pale skin and a cleansing tingle ran through Theo, before the Healer turned the flat of the blade to the side and pressed down, drawing a thin line of crimson.
Harry bristled.
"Nothing to worry about." Kyle's quick voice came from his corner, poised to turn at a moment's notice. "Quinn?"
No answer, of course, but Kyle relaxed as the Healer continued on as if nothing was wrong.
Quinn calmly took the bloodied blade and began to paint several runes along Charlie's exposed chest. The runes glowed a bright, fierce green before they faded into the skin and when he'd completed the last one, the wings melted back into Charlie's tanned skin.
The Dragon tamer gave a deep sigh of relief a yawn escaping as he still held the large bottle of warmed oil. He was feeling better than he had since the night with Harry. His body seemed to hum with contentment as he felt his magic no longer stressed and stretched out around him, but comfortably close and wrapped around his body.
Theo tended to his cut wrist with a few swipes of his tongue, as his body healed from the intrusion within seconds.
Harry looked between them worriedly and Charlie smiled, warmly, for them both. "That was heavenly," he announced, rolling his shoulders forward and back with pleasure. He hadn't realized how much that simple act that been weighted by his wings. "Thank you. I didn't realize that-"
"A common enough mistake that most new Dragels make."
Quinn sniffed.
"In the future, do not allow your wings to remain out and exposed when they are so weak. They require use to strengthen them and practice to be able to actually use them. Keep the massage oil. Ask your mates to help you with your wings until you can invoke and entreat them to retract." Kyle said. "It is a nourishing oil with healing herbs and will lessen any particular discomfort from having them in or out. I would suggest using it warmed and to be sure that to cover every inch of your wings, so the scales are encouraged to grow and become flexible as they should. The information from your full scan will be made available tomorrow as our records office is closed for today. Seeing as you do not have any further pressing ailments, I will be issuing you an appointment card for tomorrow. You currently have dark residue within you and I can see evidence of a recent ritual, which worries me. I request that you spend the evening as relaxed as possible and no strenuous activities." Kyle paused. "Your age suggests experience, but your wings speak that you are barely within your inheritance, may I inquire as to why?"
"You may." Charlie picked up his shirt and began to thread his arms through them, with a pleased smile when he realized that the shirt no longer bore the necessary holes for his wings, but had closed up to a normal style. "But as I don't quite have an answer, I can't really say. I just came into this…a day ago, I believe. It was a bit of a shock."
"A day?" There was surprise and a hint of shock in Kyle's voice. "How did this come about?"
"Not sure about that either," Charlie said, lightly. "But I'm sure there's a few answers that I can ask for now that I can think clearly again."
"…I see. Very well. Please step down. Next?"
Quinn waved Charlie down from the bed and beckoned to Theo as he stripped of his gloves and disposed of them, donning a clean pair. Kyle waved his wand over his shoulder again and the paper on the bed was ripped away and replaced by a new sheet.
Theo shook his head, a sudden flash of stubbornness in his eyes. "Harry's next."
Quinn perked a brow, his lips pursing into a frown. He repeated the gesture again.
"I have just a headache and I would rather that you saw to Harry first."
Kyle huffed in his corner. "Quinn, you can't argue with the-Ow. Hey! Do not take your frustrations out on—Quinn?" Kyle swiveled around, his eyes narrowing as Quinn summoned a vial from the shelves where he'd been organizing it earlier. He broke the seal and then raised one gloved finger to his mouth, where he tugged the glove off with his teeth and pricked it with one fang. Two single drops of blood were added before the Healer handed the vial to Theo and waited, arms crossed over his chest.
Theo met his gaze squarely as he accepted the vial and swallowed the potion with a grimace.
"Harry?" Kyle repeated the name, having turned back to face his corner, his wand tapping idly on his knee as Quinn moved around, quiet and efficient in his own way.
A more alert Theo was settled on a chair beside the door, his eyes still watchful and piercing as they tracked the Healer's every move. Charlie sat next to Theo, his own blue eyes settled on Harry, mindful of the younger man's movements and the faint, cautious twitches of a muscle every now and again.
Both had been warned to keep their silence and their inclinations to a minimum and not to interfere whatsoever.
"Shirt off please." Came the standard request. "Are you magic-sensitive? Any phobias, sensitivities, allergies or declarations I should know?"
"Not that I know of." Harry answered. He fought the urge to flinch as Quinn's gloved fingers skittered lightly over his mating marks, both old and new. He didn't want anyone but his mates to touch them, to see them, even.
"I am only checking to be sure they have healed properly. I would not cause discomfort to you and your mates by directly touching or activating your marks."
Another ripple of soothing magical energy swirled through the room and Quinn offered the faintest of smiles as he caught Harry's chin and tapped his cheek lightly, a prompt for Harry to open his mouth. His eyes gleamed as he studied the picture presented, then summoned a packet from the shelf and withdrew to tear it open and squeeze the contents out onto his gloved fingers.
"Open." Kyle intoned, a moment later.
Harry eyed the mystery gel, reluctantly opening his mouth. A cool, satisfying burst of mint and copper exploded in his mouth and he gave an unexpected trill of appreciation.
Kyle chuckled softly. "Your fangs are as sensitive as the rest of your teeth, do you brush regularly? I will give you a specific tooth gel to be rubbed into your gums twice a day. It will help to curb the sensitivity and repair some of the damage. Do not forget to use it, I will know if you have been skipping it. This is important, your dental health can directly correspond to specific physical attributes as well as mental blocks in your magic."
The gloved hands withdrew and Quinn stripped off the gloves, throwing them away and donning a new pair. He then tipped up Harry's head to look directly into those emerald eyes.
"Eyes open. Blink twice." Kyle reminded. "Thank you," he added, a moment later.
Harry found himself staring into the entrancing teal gaze a moment later, eyes a such a bright, blue-green, it almost hurt to look at them and yet he could not look away. For a moment, a tendril of fear sparked through him as he mentally scrambled to check and test what poor Occulumency shields he had, tensing for the mental probe that never came. If anything, the feelings of warmth, comfort and strength swirled a little thicker around him for several moments, before the air thinned again and Quinn broke the gaze himself, a sudden, shadowed flicker visible in those rich, bright teal eyes.
Harry swallowed hard.
A/N: The Healer story arc will take a few chapters, so settle in for a bit. There's a hint of Harry thinking about Remus, but Remus is NOT in Nevarah right now, Harry was just remembering that he always associated a certain scent and familiarity to him and is understanding why and missing him. Charlie's out of the way and now Theo's kind of out of the way healer-wise, so the next few chapters are focusing solely on Harry, who has been watching and observing throughout this entire process. If you guessed the warm fuzzy feeling to be an aura, that is correct, Healer Quinn-as a healer, has a strong, calming aura to ease his patient's worries and fears. Thank you for the kind response to the last chapter, I hope you enjoy the start of the mysteries beginning to unravel. :) It's Harry-time! ^_^
NOTE: This fic has a lot of chapters, 40+, but time-wise in the fic, since Voldy's attack and Charlie's near death, they've only made it away about a day and a half! Time is actually moving very, very slowly here!
If you have questions, ask away. I'll answer what I can and read the replies below-you might find answers to your questions before you even ask. ^_^
twilightreaderaddict: Calida's fun like that, isn't she? At the moment, she's on a bit of a "baby-high" since she's carrying, but she's mostly a pretty cheerful and helpful person on her own, with the ability to sense when some things are about to get a little messy. :P Bhindi is a brat on purpose, but don't worry about Aracle, the rest of circle is actually pretty nice, considering. Bhindi's just in a snit at the moment and Ilsa happens to be part of the cause for it, so Aracle's in the middle, as usual-as for the smack upside the head, well, he did deliver a rather nice threat to shut her up...which I might include in the side fic, depending. I've had a few requests for Severus-Draco-Terius, so there'll probably be quite a few little snippets from them up at first. Hope you enjoyed the first installment of the Healer arc. :)
Kaylen Cooper: Glad you're enjoying the read. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
MJ: *peeks cautiously over keyboard* Um, sorry? *waves white flag* The chapter just got out of hand and I didn't want to post a massive thing of about 20,000 words...so yeah, I sliced it in half. This chapter alone is about 8k-and that's just for the starting introduction. Glad my explanations cleared up some things, I was starting to worry for a bit. Er, yes, to some degree, some of the actual real action won't happen until Harry gets his seals off. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
SnowyAshKitty: LOL, well, you're welcome to ask away all you like, whenever you remember, if I haven't answered them yet. Ah, Draco was raised by his parents and as his mother was a Dragel sub, with Dragel knowledge, he didn't require a mentor. His father taught him what he needed to know and Severus and Terius immediately took over as they bonded shortly after he came into his inheritance, he was groomed from his early years, so there's no learning curve like Harry is having right now. He knew what to expect and that's one reason he's handling it so well and able to play hostess to everyone as they stay at Terius' place.
No, you cannot mate with your mentor, usually because a mentor is almost always a Pareya(protector) or a Sub from a mated circle, this is done on purpose, because a Pareya would have protective and parental urges towards the mentee, the same for the Sub. For a Sub to become a Pareya (as they all start out as Subs from birth and circumstances dictate how they change roles), it's a rather small step, so they basically have similar dispositions and inclinations to teach, comfort and support a young Dragel without hitting on them. (I'll explain more in that glossary bit I'm working on). Unfortunately, Calida will not be Harry's mentor, as a Carrier, she's not eligible and second, as an unmated sub, definitely not possible. Harry would have questions for a mated sub, seeing as he is already mated himself, so his mentor would have to be able to answer them. Oooh, Harry's mentor is "missing" and can be "found" how, we'll see when Quinn finds out.
Sirius will make an appearance, but not with Remus as unfortunately he did pass through the veil...I'm very loosely, if at all, following the canon line of events in that Sirius is unfortunately dead at the time that Harry comes into this whole Dragel thing and this is right after that year when it all started, I'm keeping the twins in school, because I want them to be there for the spell Dumbles cast and for Harry, so they haven't set up a shop or anything yet, they were considering it, but hadn't decided and after Umbitch was kicked out, their mother insisted they go back, so they did. As for Sirius, well, as we did see Death, who knows, perhaps she's in the market for a nice pet, seeing as Aiden is occupied and all that, with Padfoot having a slight appearance of a Grim...). I've got some plans for Tonks and Remus. Dragels are fine with just about any kind of creature, as long as said mate is loyal and loving. If there is even the slightest bit of doubt, they will refuse, unless the solicitor is a Dragel. But there are circles in Nevarah (which Harry will eventually meet), with Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Vampires and Merfolk, Veelas, etc. Also, as the Dragel sub would be the one to initiate the mating and bear the child, no child would carry a werewolf genetic makeup as Dragel is the dominant gene.
Ancient magic is an Immortal player in this fic, much like Death and the Sky Raven Lord (guy who helped/created/adopted the Torvaks as his own creatures). To some degree, Yes, Harry will definitely be able to use it. He just doesn't know that yet. Yes, Lily's magic was part Dragel and part ancient, it was blood magic-and has now evolved into a special Seal that will send Quinn into fits when he discovers it. :P I am waiting for Harry's circle to have at least four, before I mention the Dursley's specifically. ;)
domisjohn : They could, but Draco already has one Pareya(protector), Terius, as their circle is small, there isn't a need for more than one Pareya unless Draco has some sort of crush on them and the chances of him initiating a heartcry is rather slim. More than two Pareya in Draco's current circle could cause some emotional stress on all involved, because three of them will have the strong instinct to protect, when there are rightfully only two "mates" Severus and Draco. Calida doesn't quite count in that she is not a mate, but a temporary "sub" in the role of Carrier. Don't worry, there'll be fun when it gets to the babies in future chapters.
AnnaMarieAvery: I swapped out Megan Jones in Hufflepuff for Theo in Slytherin. ;) The Het/straight version of this fic is pretty much a rewrite with all female mates instead of all male. Most the little things are still the same, but for instance, where Draco is the sub here, he becomes the "advisor" in the Snape circle and Calida becomes the sub, just little differences like that throughout it to take away the "slashiness" that some folks didn't want to read. No biggie if you read it or not, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. I'm only writing it "unslashed" thanks to a special reviewer friend of mine. Hmm, no I've never been able to get into FemHarry, it just kind of bugs me, especially when he's paired with Draco and all the reactions to his being a girl(if he wasn't female from the start, or the time spent describing on how lovely his green eyes are and how long his hair is...erm, yeah. No go.), seeing as it bugs me so much, I probably wouldn't write a femHarry, unless I was rewriting a fic I already had started. Yes, Harry will have OC's in his circle, that's the only logical way for him to have some the creatures like a Merrow or a Hellhound in his circle, I can only twist canon so far before it makes my eyes cross. We haven't met Harry's Merrow yet and Calida could be his carrier, seeing as they have similar build and height. :P Voldy is not a hellhound-but, he does have a connection to Death that is going to bite him in the butt and the whole skinny, pale and red eyes thing does tie into that. Kudos to you for picking up on that! Hmm, what kind of Slytherin Harry? Snarry, Drarry, LV/Harry or just a good Severitus? I have a few fics on my faves list, but not all of them are Slytherin Harry. And again, I don't mind the questions at all, so ask away. :D
Lw117149: Arthur's entire family is pureblooded Torvak, so yes, his father Septimus and his grandfather as well. The Weasley family is not the head of the Torvaks, but they are pretty close, a second-tier family, in the ranking system, so the actual head family is just one-step above them. Glad you liked Calida, she's fun, isn't she?
Lientjuhh: Yay, I was coherent again. LOL. Really glad that I didn't confuse you. Hmm, that is a good plot bunny, though I'm not really sure how on earth that could work, as the head of the Torvak is an older guy at present, but since he hasn't made an appearance, that's all subject to change. Hmmm. There is a possibility that he could initiate a heartcry with a Torvak, if the creature side of the Torvak is willing (because there are Torvaks in a few of the rare Dragel circles and there are a few rare Torvaks with Dragels for mates(single mates in this case, think of Molly and Arthur here). The missing mentor is coming right up as Quinn is going to stumble across something that Harry really shouldn't have had. ;) Yes, Harry has family in this world, I'm going pretty far back for them though. ^_^
Ada Malfoy nee Lovelace: Aww, thanks! I'm really happy you're enjoying it and I'm still smiling. This was an extra long chapter to get Harry fitted in a bit at the end, hope you enjoyed it. :)
Meri: I'm definitely going to include that in the side fic as well as quite a few other little snippets of them. Do you have any other requests? I'm open to taking them! Glad you're enjoying the read.
The Purple Donkey: Glad you enjoyed it! This chapter is extra long and another long one to come tomorrow, too, I think. I'll probably have to sleep sometime...LOL. :)
Celestialuna: Oh yeah, it's going to be fun. I can't wait to put Harry in all sorts of situations, especially once his seals are off and he's all hot and powerful and attractive to all those lovely potential mates...Thanks for reading! ^_^
runningoutofnames4me: I'm not trying to make you hyper on purpose, honest! XD I'm roughly about halfway writing the whole healer arc and as a whole, well, it's about 20k+ words...most of my chapters on average are about 4k or so, this one alone is 8k, just to get to the healer intro. :) There's a lot to be revealed, so I guess, fair warning? *ducks behind keyboard*
Woodland Spirit: Thanks a bunch! I hope this chapter is fast enough. ;)
agge: I figured all the subs deserve a little extra frills, so the option to carry is available to both fem/male subs and really helps for first-time mothers/carriers. ;) Aracle's got that knack for defusing things before they get too out of hand, but Bhindi is being a brat on purpose here. She mostly has an issue with Ilsa and yep, his circle doesn't hate him, that's why he holds the position of Elected Beta(Rheyo). Ah, she probably would, but right now, Calida's on her "baby-high" which makes her a tad over the top and a little hyper. There's a touch of Harry's power visible, but it's not an element that is "guessable" more like a specific rare ability, but he can use Darkness and probably would handle it quite well if he had a mate with Shadow/Dark tendencies. Glad you enjoyed the read-thanks for the lovely review! ^_^
To everyone who reviewed, thank you! If I missed you in the replies, 'tis purely by accident. Thanks for reviewing/faving/alerting this little fic. ^_^