See first chapter for disclaimers/warnings/summaries. Link to TBDH Forum is on my profile.
RECAP: After Theo and Charlie have sorted themselves out, a bedraggled Harry returns, craving some private time with his Bonded and saving his temper up for the next morning.
NEVARAH : ILSA'S GUEST HOUSE : MASTER BEDROOM : DEVERAINE PROPERTY :
Harry was the second to wake up the next morning, the first being Charlie who had wakened to nature's call and left to take care of such necessary business. His warmth leaving the bed had been gradually missed by a sensitive Harry who woke within minutes after noticing that his personal heater was missing from his immediate side.
That was not the way he wanted to wake up and his temper from the previous night spilled over with a fine trickle of annoyance. Harry poked Theo a few times, not bothering to stroke the tattoo that would let him up just yet. He was upset thinking of the blur the past afternoon had been and the possibility that he could have enjoyed it more if his two idiots had simply been smarter about the whole bonding thing.
Harry scowled. This time, he shifted around to bite the mark with blunt teeth instead of a mere brush of the fingers.
Theo woke at once, half-sitting up in bed, yanking Harry close to his chest, gold eyes bright and wide-awake. "Harry?" Theo's sleep slurred voice matched the weary slump of his shoulders as the young Alpha eased his tight grip on his Submissive. "What's wrong?" His dragel senses did not scream of danger in the immediate vicinity and Theo's sleep-fogged mind was not yet inclined to puzzle out why he'd been wakened in a new way. He began to ease himself back down to the blankets.
Narrowed emerald eyes turned to mere slits, the cat-eyed pupils shimmering. "No, you don't!" Harry made a fist with one hand and thumped Theo quite generously on the head. "What were you thinking?" He hissed, awake and angry. "Do you have any idea what you could have done?"
Theo blinked up at him, adorably confused with his innocent expression and wide gold eyes, framed by messy chocolate brown curls. "H-harry?" His voice was tentative, one hand already reaching up to his head.
Harry responded by thumping him again. "Don't 'Harry' me!" He growled. "You. Charlie. Last night. What was that? Huh? You two couldn't settle things without having to-"
"Hey!" The protest came out almost slightly whined as Theo sat up and leaned back, just slightly out of reach of Harry's fists. "It was—that was instinct. Pure instinct."
"So?" Harry demanded. "It took you dancing around each other all afternoon to handle…pure instinct? Both of you?"
"Well…Charlie didn't know, it really wasn't-"
"Then you should have told him." Harry snapped. "You're the Alpha!"
A faint tinge of pink dusted Theo's pale cheeks and he looked away for a moment. "Harry, look…I'm sorry. It was…more complicated than that."
"Complicated?" Harry repeated, calmly. Too calmly. "Exactly how complicated was it that neither of you could be there when I needed you most. When I actually needed you! For everything you've been sharing and telling me and agreeing with things like bonding and Bahn and the picnic and then, sleeping and the—everything!" Harry threw up his hands. "The whole—I can't even remember the afternoon. I remember having fun. I remember being ordered to rest, even though I didn't feel the least bit tired and-"
Theo's golden eyes flashed. "You were dead on your feet, do not give me that." His eyes narrowed. "You needed to rest and it had been a long day."
"Fine then." Harry inclined his head. "Fine. Then how come I woke up surrounded by Bahn, Soula—who I barely even talked to—sleeping right next to me along with another nice girl, Shayla, whom I never even met and then Ilsa of all people shows up to explain to me that you two are being-"
"Harry?" Charlie's uncertain voice cut through the tirade. He had just stepped out from the water closet and now stood at the foot of the bed, looking sleep rumpled and sexy with a pair of plaid blue pants and his fiery red, golden-tipped hair half-twisted into a loose braid. "Morning." He nodded to Theo, looking between his Alpha and Submissive.
"You." Harry turned on Charlie at once. "Once you figured it out, what took you so long?" His hands began to flux into claws. "It was just a matter of bonding!"
"It wasn't just a matter!" Theo snapped.
Harry jerked around to look at him. "Really? Explain then. Explain how I thought everything was fine. We were fine and then I wake up to find out that it's not. Explain that, Theo. Explain it."
Theo opened and shut his mouth. He did not speak for a moment and then he rubbed his face with a muffled groan. "You said not to fight, remember?"
Harry's expression darkened even further. "All of this happened, because I said not to fight him?"
"Well," Theo began.
"Don't." Harry held up a hand. "Just…don't. Even if I said that—you could have mentioned it. You could have talked to me, Theo." He frowned. "You too, Charlie. This is—this is serious. We're all in this together, at least, I liked to think so." His glower darkened. "This is important. I could have—if I'd known—I wouldn't have, you know that—ugh!" Harry threw up his hands, unable to say another word. He was too upset and there was just enough worry inside of him that warned him of taking things too far, speaking in a temper was one thing, making his temper known was another, but allowing said temper to run away with him—Harry shrank inwardly on himself. He didn't dare do that. No one would put up with that, he was sure, not even Theo, who had shown incredible patience so far. Not even Charlie, Harry was sure, who knew more about his back story than Theo did.
"Would you have preferred if we fought without telling you?" Theo snapped. He was finding himself to be slightly cranky now that he'd been startled out of his sleep for a danger that did not exist and then immediately confronted by his irate Submissive.
"Yes!" Harry snapped. "At least then you could have explained it later, if you had to and then things would've been alright."
"Alright like how?" Charlie eased himself onto the foot of the bed, grasping that the conversation had taken less than pleasant turns from the moment his Bonded had wakened.
"Alright like being there for me." Harry pursed his lips, thinking. His mind swirled with images of a certain, prickly Merrow by the name of Alec. His dreams had been filled with the conversation from the night before and left him with an endless montage of moonlight snapshots of the Merrow floating through his mind. He also recalled a very rude conversation, a mystery water snake, nearly drowning and not being able to reach his Bonded. A low growl left his lips.
"I think we're missing something too," Charlie tried. "Is there anything you want to tell us?"
"Me?" Harry sputtered. "Do you really want to start this, Charlie? You both left me out there, alone, in the middle of the night, on a beach that I haven't even walked the full length in daytime, without any way to contact either of you and you want to know if there's anything I want to tell you?"
"Well," Charlie began.
"Please excuse me, while I do." Harry cut in. Emerald eyes gleamed. "Since you're both listening. I have a lot to stay. Don't you dare interrupt!"
It was a thoroughly repentant Theo and Charlie that were finally sitting on the bed, braced up against the headboard, both of them sharing expressions of shock and uncertainty. Harry certainly had an explosive temper on him, having already demolished a few items with the sheer passion transmuted through his magic as he'd raged, ranted and calmly presented his reasons for such a spectacular show of temper.
He did not turn any of it into physical violence on their persons, but his disappointment, disdain and obvious displeasure at their behavior was completely laid out before them, without any buffers in between. He'd taken them both to task, remembering Bahn, Shayla and Ilsa's words on taking a stand for himself and reminding his Bonded that a Circle was formed on mutual trust, honesty and communication.
Theo's head remained partially bowed and Charlie had stopped fidgeting after the second round. Neither of them dared to interrupt until Harry was through.
Their Submissive was not happy.
By the time he'd finished, neither Alpha nor Beta had anything they could say to counter the arguments that had resulted in awkward, uncomfortable feelings all around, before Harry had finally wound down, climbing up to perch on the edge of the bed, arms folded across his chest, scowling adorably.
After he'd extracted apologies from both of them, Harry finally allowed them to draw close enough to touch him. He did thump Charlie twice, for good measure, as he'd done the same to Theo and it didn't seem fair to let Charlie off when he was equally to blame in his own right.
Afterwards, he'd crawled into Charlie's lap, craving his Beta's warmth and the security that came with knowing his Beta was strong and steady enough for him to depend on. Theo summoned a dressing gown from the hook near the bathroom sink and set about repairing the damage Harry had done to the room.
When their Alpha finally joined them on the bed, Harry turned to look at him from the safe vantage point of Charlie's broad, tanned arms. "Theo?" He ventured, cautiously. His Alpha had listened without a word, save for the apologies given and now, Harry could feel the guilt and sorrow wafting off of the tightly wound feelings. Harry inwardly strengthened his resolve. He would not apologize for this—it was high time he'd spoken up for himself and there was absolutely nothing wrong with doing so. This could only work if they were all willing to contribute and be open and honest about everything.
He'd even mentioned that little bit of information from Ilsa, about a certain password that might have had less than pleasant consequences. Theo had merely gritted his teeth and remained silent, not offering anything in regards to that particular snippet. Charlie had looked vaguely horrified.
Harry didn't bother to process that. It nearly gave him a headache trying not to read the emotions swirling through the room and what they could possibly mean. It was hard to read Theo as a matter of course, his Alpha was Slytherin, after all, but Charlie was older and experience came with age, his own expression had been rather inscrutable.
"Theo…I won't apologize for that." Harry heard himself say before he could check the words. He winced inwardly. That was not what he was intending to say, but apparently, his brain had not yet caught up to his mouth. He had no regrets about speaking his mind for once and felt relieved and gratified when he'd finally said all that he'd been meaning to. He had no desire to undermine himself by apologizing in any way at all. "It needed to be said." He continued, firmly.
"I know." The young Alpha sighed, offering a wan smile, before he scrubbed his face with one dressing gown-clad arm. "And…about the password, Harry. I…didn't think you would need to use it so soon. I intended to change the bindings before you ever had a chance to do so."
"You didn't think I'd need to use it soon or you didn't think I would use it?" Harry countered. There was a distinct difference.
"I didn't think you'd need to use it." Theo countered, readily. "I was speaking to Oretta, when you called on it—we were," He hesitated. "Making arrangements to change them. It requires time, magic and significant effort on both of our parts."
"Would you ever had told me?" Harry had to ask.
Theo's near smile faded. "No." He said, quietly. "I would have changed it and left it at that."
Harry swallowed. "…why?"
"Because the sentiment is true and I meant it when I gave it to you."
Emerald eyes squeezed shut and Harry felt his hands curling into fists once more. He felt like saying things that probably shouldn't be said. "…You should have asked."
"It was my right."
"Hang your rights!" Harry growled. "I care about you, Theo. Hopefully as much as you care about me and Charlie. How do you think I'd manage if you were—Merlin forbid—dead?"
"I would hope that you would find strength and courage in each other to continue living." Theo said, calmly. "Harry, this has nothing to do with instinct or whether I love you or not and please, do not ever doubt that I do. I love you to the point that it hurts to breathe, at times. Something this beautiful—could break—and leave us all shattered. But this, Harry, this is my element. I have changed the bindings, not because my feelings have changed, but my perspective on them, has. I would still give myself entirely, if it meant that you and Charlie and any other Bonded we have in the future, would live. That is not duty, responsibility or instinct. It is simply who I am and I will never change that."
Harry sucked in a breath and carefully blew it out. He could feel the conflicted emotions that roiled between all three of them, Charlie quivering faintly as he processed Theo's passionate speech. He could feel the central thread of Theo's conviction and it was ironclad.
That hurt, to think of it, before Harry realized exactly what his Alpha had said. He felt a pang in his own chest, shared through their bond, as he realized that for all of his own protests, possible and unspoken, that he would do the same. In a heartbeat, he would give up himself, if only to see that his friends, family and Bonded were all alive, safe and well—even if he could not be there with them.
Tears prickled and stung at the back of his eyes and he turned his face to Charlie's chest, feeling distinctly inadequate of the complete devotion and utter loyalty reflected in Theo's shimmering golden eyes.
How could he deserve that?
"Charlie—Theo," Harry whispered their names, even as he tried and failed to comprehend the depth of emotion and magic that bound them all together. Merlin, he didn't deserve them, but he'd sure try to be worthy of them.
"You are precious, my treasure." Theo whispered, softly, in his ear, drawing close, the moment Harry had turned away.
Harry shuddered in those warm, strong arms, even as Charlie rumbled comfortingly above him.
"As are you, my dragonheart." Theo pressed a kiss to the base of Charlie's throat and caressed Harry's ear with one long, slender finger. "And you mean the world to me. The new password, Harry, is Orbis Terraro Ken." He tucked a brunet curl around that pale ear. "and, before you ask, should you invoke it, I would be rendered unconscious for several weeks, before returning to my original state. It will not kill me, but the magic is no less potent regardless of the changed intent." He stroked that finger down Harry's pale cheek and then down his neck.
They remained together, half-curled around each other for some time, before Theo finally spoke once more. "It didn't escape my notice," he began, softly. "That you didn't answer Charlie's question when he asked what went wrong."
Harry blanched. Oh. Right. That. He hadn't even broached the topic of water, midnight—past midnight, he was sure—and mysterious water serpents, Merrows and almost drowning. He gulped. Right. The almost drowning part probably couldn't be broken gently. He'd covered nearly everything else, but he'd avoided a few points, purely out of self-preservation and especially after sensing the depth of emotion contained in the room.
"Is there anything you'd like to share?" The lightness in Theo's voice was betrayed by the sudden resolve in the emotions around him that stilled and combined into a single point of concern.
Harry bit his lip. There really wasn't an easy way to start into it.
Theo sighed, almost resignedly. "Alright, what happened?"
"It's actually—I—well—it sort've—I might have—there was a—it was cold!" Harry shivered, violently. He remembered the water being absolutely freezing and then warm hands drawing him close and carrying him to air and safety. He could still feel the imprints of Alec's hands, holding him near, rubbing up and down his back as he coughed onto the sand. He swallowed hard, feeling a touch of warmth dusting over his cheeks. He most certainly would not be telling Theo and Charlie that.
"Start at the beginning?" Charlie suggested, cuddling him tighter and automatically drawing on his fire to project said warmth. It was practically habit by now. "And slower, maybe?"
"I don't know how!" Harry protested, helplessly. "I just, I had some—I couldn't sit still." He tried to explain. "So I was running, you know, up and down the beach and then I saw—mphghf." Harry blinked. He had not meant to garble the last of that sentence.
Theo and Charlie stared at him for a moment, equally confused by the sudden lack of coherence.
Harry blinked again, nearly cross-eyed when he tried to look at his mouth. It was almost as if he hadn't been speaking on his own.
"I saw a—garphf." He ground out instead. Emerald eyes grew wide and a flicker of fear was swiftly overridden by annoyance.
Theo frowned. Charlie shifted, uncertainly.
"At the pier!" Harry burst out. "I saw—something—at the pier." He breathed a short sigh of relief. That was…strange. "And I saw—berphs." The rest of the sentence came out in a jumble of syllables. And Harry screeched in frustration.
Thoe and Charlie winced in tandem and then exchanged a look. "Er, Harry," Charlie began. "If you really-"
"It was a buphskd—and I saw—mgulfd—then I fell of the pier and I was eaten by—sougph—and then a—ratsug—rescued me and I was—argh!" Harry shoved ineffectually at Charlie's strong embrace. "What's wrong with me?" He wailed.
"Shh." Theo shushed. "Calm down, Harry. Please!" His own unease was reflected in Harry's not-quite-a-panic-mode.
"I can't!" Harry couldn't keep the low whine from escaping his throat. He was stressed, frustrated, exasperated and now it felt as if there was yet another weird thing to add to the always weird things that happened only to him and no one else.
"You can't speak of it or you can't remember?" Theo interjected calmly. He'd caught a few things out of the garbled sentences that Harry had managed and he didn't like any of it.
"I can't speak of it!" Harry snapped. "Of course, I remember it! If I didn't remember it, I wouldn't have known that it was that idiot—smrufhg." Harry nearly howled.
"Bite him." Theo looked to Charlie. "Over the mark, use your fangs."
"What? Wait!" Harry started to protest a half-second too late. Not that he really minded.
Charlie had already come to the same conclusion on his own and hardly needed any urging to bury his aching fangs in Harry's supple neck. He didn't drink, though the customary mouthful of blood came through. He simply held his fangs in check, until he felt Harry's shared emotions calm and ebb to a reasonable measure.
When Harry finally half-whined again, Charlie gently sucked on the bite and fed for a few mouthfuls. Harry's blood was delicious, first thing in the morning and it tasted richer and sweeter than he'd ever known it. A feeling of puzzlement rippled over him and he disengaged his fangs a moment later, sucking and licking at the bite, until it healed over completely. He usually had a fairly good memory for things, but there was definitely something different about Harry's blood this time around. His sensitivity, magic-wise, was already off the scale from Harry's magical outburst a little bit before, but it didn't show any signs of settling down any time soon. Perhaps it was the Resting Period…
"Harry?" Theo's voice was perfectly calm and composed.
Charlie had to give him credit for it, considering how Harry had neatly put them both in their places not so long ago. He pushed his feelings of confusion, interest and curiosity through their new bond, knowing that Theo was smart enough to figure out where it was coming from and what it might mean.
Miserable green eyes shimmered brightly at Theo, before Harry simply met his gaze and waited. Charlie's fangs had been more than welcome. It helped to center him, drawing his world and point of focus to the lovely fangs notched in his neck and the deliciously slow draw of his blood that had his body relaxing instinctively.
"You met someone?" Theo inquired.
Harry blushed, then scowled. He wouldn't classify Alec as meeting someone, more like, he'd been an inconvenience to the blue-haired creature at a time that had been—Harry stopped his thoughts there, he really didn't want to think about the Merrow, in fact, if he did, the chances were that he'd hex the bastard the next time he saw him—preferably without Goonter there. He didn't care about the lovely dreams that had been anything but innocent.
"I'll take that as a yes," Theo said, carefully. "Can you tell us who it was?"
"It was a—murbglo named shgifm." Harry squeezed his eyes shut. That was definitely bad.
"Alright then, I suppose it's safe to say that whoever you met, spelled you so that you couldn't speak of the encounter." Theo hesitated. "Perhaps you could write about it? Pensieve, perhaps?"
Harry brightened at once, nodding.
A little while later, the trio conceded defeat and Harry miserably plopped down on the kitchen table, while Charlie and Theo studied the scraps of parchment. He couldn't write it down, he couldn't speak it, their bond showed nothing off it and he couldn't even draw the memory out of his head.
"Well, whoever it was—is." Theo corrected himself. "They're quite powerful and very skilled. I've never seen magic like this before. Then again, this is Nevarah, this dozens of types of old and ancient magic that we'll likely never even see or experience in our lifetimes. I just wish that—I really haven't ever seen anything like it before."
"Neither have I." Charlie frowned at the parchments. "Ingenious, though I wish I wasn't seeing it because." He smiled ruefully.
Theo scowled. "Perhaps." He said, grudgingly. "As far as I'm concerned, I'd just as soon not have strangers casting spells on our Harry." He frowned. "Though there are a few things you said that did worry me."
Harry turned to him, expectant.
"Something about falling off the pier, being eaten and then rescued?" He perked a brow. "May I make a guess that you ventured out on to the pier in the pitch black dark of night and then fell into the water?"
"Er," Harry said, intelligently.
"Water that might be freezing this time of season, with a deserted beach and a lack of direct communication?" Theo frowned. "That's what you were irritated about, wasn't it?"
"What?"
"Last night, you were upset at something and-"
"Yes. You two!"
"No, you were—the whole second half. I felt, I could feel you—you were there, just very, very muted—and at one point, you nearly panicked, then you were muffled for a bit and then, you were tired, upset and irritated."
Harry snorted. "I had good reason to be."
"That's not the point." Theo frowned. "What part of all of that I said a moment ago, made it a good idea to fall off a pier? I'm fairly certain I told you at some point not to be walking around there alone and if I didn't, then I'm sure Ilsa or one of Bahn's would have said something." He frowned. "Common sense on its own, Harry, should have been deterrent enough. You're not a child and I have no desire to treat you as such, when you have a fully functioning mind at your disposal. I know you're brilliant, but sometimes, I do wonder."
Harry nibbled on his lower lip. "It wasn't a lack of common sense," he protested, at last. "It was just. I couldn't help it!"
"Harry!" Theo's golden eyes darkened faintly. "You could have drowned and died! What part of that isn't registering right now?"
"You were eaten?" Charlie was still processing some of the conversation and suddenly, his blue eyes were sharp and bright. "Harry, did you say you were eaten?"
Harry swallowed. "Oops?" He offered, nervously.
By the time Theo and Charlie finished with Harry, he was suitably scolded in turn and sent upstairs to shower, while Charlie poked at a quick breakfast and Theo went to check the beachside. Charlie had been nearly ordered into the kitchen, when he took one look at Theo's sparking golden eyes and decided it was best to choose it on his own.
The slightly fuming Alpha stormed outside to investigate the beachside and the pier. He found, nothing, of course, but he was able to send a message to Ilsa and mention that they would be over as soon as possible for an important matter of discussion. Theo had then returned to the kitchen to help Charlie carry the food upstairs.
Harry emerged from the water closet, toweling his hair dry, another towel wrapped around his hips in true muggle fashion.
"Harry, you do have a dressing gown." Theo sighed, but he was already moving forward to take the towel from Harry's hands. "And don't use a towel on your hair. No wonder it sticks up all the time."
"I don't like drying spells." Harry ducked away from the well-meaning fingers. From Theo's changed demeanor, he knew that he was mostly forgiven for falling off the pier. "They make my head itch."
"Then you're not casting them right." Charlie buttered a crispy slice of toast and held it up for Harry to take a bite and then Theo. "If you use more of a flick of the wrist than a twist of the hand, it works softer. It's rather like scourgify. It takes the intent you cast it with and the more force you put behind it."
"But I don't put force behind it!" Harry made another bite for the toast.
Charlie chuckled, directing it back to him. "You can have it, you know." His smile turned fond. "And you're a powerful wizard, Harry. I'd imagine that simple spells require you to be careful to keep your magic from it rather than putting it in. I had that problem when I came into my magical majority. It took me weeks to stop blowing things up with a simple lumos."
"Really?" Harry cast a longing glance towards the steaming cups of tea on the breakfast tray. This was a new thing for him, but he was sure he could grow used to eating and dressing at the same time.
"Really." Charlie handed him the half-eaten slice of toast and began to liberally apply butter to another. "But, maybe this would help. Think of it like a waterfall, the really small ones that trace back to the streams, rivers and then to a large body of water, the sea or the ocean. The largest body of water—the ocean—is your magic, the way you use it, the intents you cast it with, are dependent on the spells you using, it becomes a river, a stream, and then a tiny trickle of a waterfall somewhere."
"What he's trying to say is that you always have control." Theo summarized. "Have you never heard of it put that way before?"
Harry shook his head, finally standing still so Theo could spell his hair dry. "Never."
Theo frowned. "I would have thought that someone would at least have said something," he mumbled, half to himself. "Sit on the bed and eat properly. Your dress robes won't arrive for another five minutes."
"Dress robes?" Harry blinked. "But I already have a set from the-"
"Then ones I purchased for you are nowhere near elaborate enough for Hunting Season." Theo interrupted. "I've ordered new ones for everyone, myself included, the moment we left Quinn's." He sighed. "They were rushed. I made sure of it, so we'd have them in time to wear. Now, we're supposed to meet Bahn and the others within the hour, Charlie, shower. Now. Late is not an option."
The redhead held his hands up in gesture meant to pacify. He gulped down his steaming tea and crammed a half-folded slice of toast into his mouth, trotting off towards the water closet for his turn, with a wave thrown over his shoulder.
Theo rolled his eyes and reached for the breakfast tray. He'd allow Harry some time to eat before he tried his hand at taming that wild hair.
HOME OF REGULUS AND JUN BLACK : ENTRYWAY
George landed in an awkward heap on the floor as Regulus and Jun flickered into existence before them. He could see magic visibly sparking off of the redheaded dragel and she stomped off through the nearest available doorway with a hissed screech at Regulus.
The Torvak hybrid merely smiled in answer and bent down to help the redheaded twin to his feet. "Sorry about the rough 'portal. Jun wasn't handling it very well, I could only keep it stable, not comfortable." He flashed a warm, genuine smile. "Are you alright?"
"Er, I think so." George rubbed his neck and side for a moment. "Where are we?"
"Home, actually, for the moment. You're free to look around, so as long as you don't fall out of any second story windows before you've learned to use your wings." Regulus paused. "Actually, you might have to save that for later." He frowned. "Jun? How are you-?"
There was another screech, a muffled explosion and a shrieked barrage of something in a foreign language. Regulus winced. "Right, on that note, we'd best lock ourselves in for a bit." He started off to the left, leading down a faintly lit passageway. "Come on."
George found himself following.
The house was a lovely, two-story affair, George learned. It was richly furnished and impeccably well-kept. There were the common, standard expectations of a master suite, guest rooms, an entertainment room, a library and a large kitchen, as well as two sitting rooms.
There was also a sturdy, double-walled, spell-protected vault-room in the center of the second story, with a complicated code that Regulus bypassed by way of pricking his thumb and pressing a spot of blood onto the lighted runes. "Watch your step." Regulus warned, gesturing first. "Jun might be awhile."
George cautiously stepped in, surprised to find that he wasn't as nervous or apprehensive as he'd expected. He was slightly unnerved to see Regulus step in after him and lock and bolt the door with a sudden speed. "Er?" He began.
"Jun is an Empath." Regulus explained. "A very, very powerful one. This is to protect us. She's likely going to wreck the house." He grimaced. "And I just cleaned it up last weekend." He sighed. "Never mind, take a look around, if you like, I'll order us some sandwiches and butterbeer, eh?"
"That's fine." George murmured. He looked around the room, surprised to find it done in rich hues of burgundy, brown and shimmers of gold and silver.
There were tapestries covering every single inch of the walls, thick carpets and rugs on the floors, an ornate wooden dining table at the far end, two tall, windows with window seats, a gigantic fireplace and a few sleeping portraits hanging over by the small cluster of bookshelves. It was put together as something of a cozy study, with armchairs that matched the window curtains and a single pot of ivy that seemed to be alive, with the way it had grown up and over a section of the wall, sprawling across the tops of the bookshelves.
"Like it?" Regulus half-smiled. "It's rather my own little haven, for when she's in one of her fits."
"It's very—nice." George admitted. He could see quite easily that the Blacks were rather well off. Far more well off than he'd thought when he'd realized that he would likely leave with them, if given the chance. "Does she do that often?"
"Hm? Jun? Oh Merlin, no. She's simply upset about this afternoon." He hesitated, then clapped his hands. An old house elf appeared, a familiar scowl on it's face.
"Kreacher!" George exclaimed.
Both house elf and Regulus turned to him in surprise. "You know each other?" Regulus stared. "Kreacher?"
"Kreacher only be doing what Master Regulus wants and nothing else." The house elf groveled.
Regulus sighed. He gently patted that wrinkled head with one half-feathered hand. "Thank you, Kreacher. Could you fetch some sandwiches and something to drink? Butterbeer, perhaps?"
"Whatever good Master Regulus requires." The sour house elf popped away.
George was still staring at the floor. "I don't-!" He sputtered and stopped. "He's-!"
"He stays at Grimmauld place, unless I call for him." Regulus smiled, wanly. "it would have been too obvious I was alive, if I'd taken my favorite house elf with me when I was supposed to be dead."
"Speaking of which," George eyed him. "I'd actually like to know a little bit more."
"About what?"
"Everything."
"Ask away."
And George did.
"Sounds like she's finished." Regulus observed, after the crackling magic in the air had finally died down to a tolerable level. "I don't believe she'd been this wound up in a while."
"Is it really that bad to be sealed?"
Regulus' dark eyes pierced him at once. "More than you could possibly know." He said, softly. "The Black family, we practice this as a rite of passage, every child is sealed at birth. Done in such a way that our magical majority manifests and comes forth, but the creature side is locked away." He smiled, bitterly. "It's a cruel practice. That's why it's so easy to lose your mind. Hard to stay sane when there's two halves to your person and their busy screaming bloody murder at each other inside of you the whole time."
"So the Blacks are…dragels?" George hesitated. His mind flickered back to one Sirius Black and then to a certain Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black and one crazed Bellatrix LeStrange, nee Black. He shuddered.
"For the most part, yes." Regulus shrugged.
"Then you—how?"
"It was too late to call it out." Regulus half-smiled. "Jun saved my life in more ways than one. I was very lucky that it was she who found me."
"She's a healer too, then?"
"Mm? Oh no. Never. She's a Rune Mistress and that alone is something formidable. She's a strong and vibrant woman. She's also an Alpha dragel." He winked at George. "She found me after I tried to double cross the Dark Lord." His face twisted into a grimace at the address that he'd never been able to grow out of, even after Jun's potion had removed the dark mark from his arm. "I was actually on an island—with inferi." Regulus took a careful breath. "To this day, I don't know what Jun was doing there, though she swears that as an empath, she was investigating the effects of emotions in a controlled environment in relation to the undead. She 'ported in—after I'd drunk something I shouldn't have—and caught me before the inferi did. I should have died, by all rights and accounts. I should have. She couldn't call out my dragel side, because it'd been suppressed for so long, it was—too late." His smile was sad. "She called out all the magic that she could spare and it had to be enough."
"Enough?" George settled himself back in an armchair again, his hands refilled, a sandwich in one, a bottle of butterbeer in the other. "How so?"
"Dragels use blood magic. She bled for me. She spiked several potions and her magic altered the nature of them. She could not twist it to be this," he gestured at himself. "But rather, she asked it to save me in any way that it could. This was the result."
"Blood magic or potions?" George had to know.
"Both." Regulus swirled the small glass of firewhiskey in hand. He'd had Kreacher pour him a tot before the house elf had popped back to where it lived. "I am very lucky to be alive, Merlin knows I should be dead." He gripped the glass, knuckles turning white, black feathers quivering. "That monster!" He growled lowly. "I wasn't myself for some time, but when I finally regained my senses, I told her about it—Jun."
"About…?"
"Tell me about the wizarding world," Regulus said, softly. "Tell me how it fares now."
So George did. He talked about how the ministry had tried to prove that Voldemort hadn't returned and how they'd sent Undersecretary Umbridge and how he'd quit school with Fred, but allowed his mother to talk him into returning, worried about Ron and Ginny, knowing that they'd look out for their younger siblings, even if it killed them to return to Hogwarts. He talked about the sudden changes in the wizarding populace, of Grey Magic funneling through Hogwarts, of the Burrow, being attacked by Death Eaters, of the fight between his parents and then, lastly, of Harry.
"You have a wonderful memory." Regulus complimented him. He surveyed the young dragel for a moment. He could already tell the inclinations of this one, George would be a Pareya. There was no doubt about it.
The redhead lifted his butterbeer bottle in a salute. "That's about it." He half-shrugged.
"This Harry, you've talked about, Harry Potter. Potter as in, who?"
"Harry Potter, son of James Potter and Lily Evans." George explained. "You didn't know then, did you?"
Regulus shook his head. "There were some things I did not keep up with and I've been with Jun since—since that incident." He moved a feathered arm to make his point. "There's a lot I've missed, it seems." He frowned. "Though he is right."
"Harry?" George frowned. "Of course he's right, if he says that-"
"No, not that." Regulus dismissed. "He's right if he says that he's back. There's more than one way for him to come to life, so it's only logical that he is back, though I suppose the time in between was probably a welcome reprieve."
"What do you mean?"
"Dumbledore—you said he hasn't done anything, really, beyond this Order of the Phoenix business? No actual war against this madman?"
"Well—technically, I'm not supposed to be aware of what's well—no." George faltered. Those dark eyes held something behind them that he wasn't sure he was quite ready to know just yet. "…why?"
Regulus was quiet for a moment. "Will you be staying with us?" He inquired, calmly. "For good?"
George blinked. "What does-?" He started, then stopped. He thought of his father, of his mother, of his brothers, of—Fred. Then he thought of Harry and the fact that he could see scales dancing along the sides of his hands and fingers. He sighed. He'd already made his choice when he'd agreed to come with them—and he was old enough. "Yes."
"Then I suppose I can tell you, but first, I do think that Jun is through." He turned to face the locked door and blinked, twice, I rapid succession.
The locks and bolts began to turn and tumble out of order, before the great, heavy door swung open. A very disgruntled, distinctly rumpled Jun, entered their private, cozy little lair. She sniffed, eyeing the platter of sandwiches as she shuffled over to study them for a moment.
And then she sighed and seated herself on the arm of Regulus's chair, before tipping off to slide down into his lap. She folded her arms and tilted her head back to rest on the opposite arm of the chair and scowled up at the ceiling.
"Sorted yourself out?" Regulus inquired. He stroked a hand up and down her bared arm. She grunted in answered, but the magic tension in the room faded even more, dimming to a pleasing hum. "George has be telling me all sorts of interesting things."
"That's very nice." Jun sighed. "Care to share?"
"You need to feed." Regulus said, abruptly. He took in the half-black hue of her rich green eyes and knew at once, how close she'd come to losing real control. "Do you mind an audience?"
"Your wrist is fine." Was the immediate reply.
Regulus presented his wrist, stroking the feathers away from the glimpse of pale skin beneath. Jun yawned, stretching her jaw as her fangs grew out. She twisted his wrist to a suitable angle, then licked the skin, before biting down. Her paleness warmed, showing a rosy, pink flush once more before the last bit of tension left her hunched shoulders.
After several long minutes, she released his wrist and licked it to urge her magic into the wound and heal it quickly. "Thank you, love." She kissed his cheek when he bent down to allow it.
"Anytime."
They talked some more and then dinner was served right there—Regulus called Kreacher back. The grumpy house elf didn't care much for anything, but his precious Master Regulus, until Jun turned to ask him a question of her own.
"That's enough sniveling out of you," She half growled. "What I'd like to know is if you can 'port into Neverah, or shall I have to see about purchasing a charm for you?"
Kreacher blinked up at her, his mouth twisting into phrases that he didn't speak, before he bowed his head. "Mistress Black is a fine mistress for Master Regulus. She thinks of how poor old Kreacher can-"
"Yes or no." Her voice was cold as ice.
Kreacher dithered for a moment, then grimaced. "Kreacher is bound to Master Regulus, will go wherever Master Regulus wishes."
"Good house elf." Jun crooned. "We'll be leaving in a bit, so expect that we'll be there, within now and the next time we call for you."
"Kreacher thanks Mistress Black for the warning." The house elf popped out.
Regulus stared at her. She held a wineglass in hand, swirling the crimson liquid, staring pensively at the table for a moment. "Jun?" He ventured after a moment.
She sighed and set the glass down. "George," her green eyes drilled into him. "I have a very special proposition for you and I have given it some thought. Since you're of age and you're reasonably well-behaved, I don't think there's much I would have to do, but still, it is a significant effort on my part." She took a breath. She'd been explaining some of dragel politics and circles and other things to the redhead. He'd listened with rapt attention for some time.
"What is it?"
"Would you accept me as your mentor?"
Regulus dropped his fork. George was speechless. Both understood exactly what was being offered and by an adult, Alpha dragel, no less.
"I-I—yes!" George stammered. He shook his head, lightly, to clear it. "I would be honored. I can't even—I thank you." He smiled, feeling the expression settle on his face. He'd been wondering about that, especially with how Jun had spoken of it and now, it felt as if a weight had suddenly left him. "Would you have me?" He countered. "I'm not, well, I am what I am." He offered a cheeky grin, though with a hint of a shadow.
"I would." She emptied the wineglass and held it up in a salute. "Shall we make it official?"
George inclined his head. "Then we'll be off to this, Nevarah?"
"Mmhm." Jun flashed a wicked grin. "I've decided that I miss my Circle and I'm tired of spying." Her smirk grew. "So I've decided to return home. I have news to share and reports to turn in, so I doubt they will send me away." She checked her fingernails. "Not to mention that it is Hunting Season and this Harry, you speak of, might be there."
"Harry? In Nevarah?" George snorted. "I don't think that's likely."
Jun fixed him with a look. "And what would make you say that?"
"How would he travel there? I mean, I know he said he bonded with this Nott fellow, but."
"Nott." Jun frowned. "That sounds so familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. It's like I've heard it in passing." She mused. "Ach. Never mind, we'll be leaving by tomorrow. You should probably have a good night's rest here." She looked at Regulus. "And you will likely want to pack every single thing you own, so please, remember what whatever you don't take, will be left here indefinitely. I can't speak for how it will be should we ever return."
"What if he's not there, Harry?" George stretched, carefully, rolling his neck to the side. A thought struck him and he almost didn't voice, it but then again, he'd earned his reputation, right along with Fred. They never shied away from boldness. "W-would we be able to visit my Mum's family? If they're there?"
"Depends." Jun wrinkled her nose. "What was the family name?"
"Prewitt. Molly Prewitt."
"Molly, hm?" Jun cocked her head to the side. "I don't recall a Molly, but I have heard of the Prewitts. They are a strong and old family. I'm agreeable to searching them out, if you so desire." She stifled a yawn. "And I'm tired, it's been a day of heavy casting, so do excuse me if I'm not the best of company right now." She rose from the table, all fluid, elegant grace. "I'll finalize our mentor-mentee bond in the morning, if that's alright."
George hesitated. "It's fine."
There was an audible snort from the other end of the table. George looked up in time to see Jun blur to his end of the table, her strong hands closing around his neck. He was pinned up against a bookcase in short order, fighting at the hand, by the time his wits caught up to him.
"It is obviously not fine." Jun said, calmly. "Stop squirming. I'm not hurting you."
"You're choking me!" George retorted, still tugging at her hand, feet dangling. She wasn't, really, but he was aware of just how much he wasn't in direct control of the situation. He didn't like it very much. For a moment, he felt pure fear.
Green eyes gave a spectacular roll and then Jun removed his hand. He was still dangling in the air, unable to move. "Sticking charm," she explained, when it seemed as if his mind was too slow to connect the dots.
George blushed. Fred was usually the one who thought quickly on the fly like that. A pang ached in his chest and he forcefully pushed it away. He needed to focus here and now and to make a mental note of what he'd said so he wouldn't tick her off again in the future.
"What do you know about empaths?" Jun asked, calmly.
George frowned. "If you let me down, I'll tell." He bargained.
Her eyes sparkled merrily. "Oh this will be fun." She exclaimed. "On second thought, I think I can spare the effort and the magic for our little bonding ritual, feel up to it?"
The charm released him and he pitched forward into her open arms. He gripped them, drawing strength from it and realizing what she'd done. She'd read his answer as he'd meant it, not as he'd said it. He swallowed. Only his mother had ever done that for him.
"Yes." He nodded for good measure. "Yes, I feel up to it."
She hugged him, gently, the embrace soothing and reassuring. "Good. Regulus can be our witness."
A/N: And this will probably be my last chapter while I'm on break, y'all will be going back to the once a week updates or once every two weeks, depending on just how frazzled I'll be after returning to Uni. :) It's been a fun week though and I've had a lot of fun working on this fic. This chapter was for everyone who wanted to see Harry give Theo and Charlie a piece of their minds, along with Harry getting a little scolding as well for waltzing off the end of a pier, even if he was trying to save Alec. At any rate, next chapter will be the Deveraines and Harry preparing to 'port in for the Hunting Season introduction ceremony for week 2. Thank you to everyone who faved/alerted and reviewed my new TheoxHarry fic, Unspeakable in Forks. It'll be updated as I have the time and effort to devote to it (as usual, with the rest of my fics).
Thank you kindly for the wonderful reviews, suggestions and also the well wishes for my Aunty and a stress-free spring break. It's been a good week and Aunty is still doing well!
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~Scion