This chapter was betaed by the wonderful brissygirl to provide a smoother reading experience. All remaining mistakes are my own. See first chapter for disclaimers/additional warnings/summaries.

RECAP: Maia Kadel leaves chaos in her wake as Harry is left in a healing trance and a short-tempered Aiden is left to deal with Death. When Death's unhappiness at Harry's survival surfaces, Hadrian is roped into finding the Deathly Hallows, while Theo and Charlie arrive late to the party. Maury and Mariana have a short talk at one of her safehouses between realms, with a certain information-brokering Gheyo, Wolfram. Dyshoka rushes to the Kalzik family home, after seeing a vision that prompts her to visit Quinn at a pivotal point in his life.

MAIN CITY WALKWAY, NEVARAH - HERMIONE

Hermione couldn't help it. She stared up at two identical, handsome, red-headed men with the kindest brown eyes she'd ever seen. There was a faint, familiar air of mischief about them, but she couldn't put her finger directly on what it was that made her heart stutter a beat.

Somehow, she knew them, even if she didn't know why she felt that way.

"This is Gideon—on the left," the lovely woman continued. "And Fabian on the right. Would you two mind taking this lovely witch to the library? What's your name, dear?"

"Hermione," she said, faintly. "Hermione Granger. You look very fam-" A hand went to her head and she rubbed at her temples with a grimace.

The names rattled around in her head along with the growing noise of her new surroundings. The mutterings from her Silvertongue gift were making themselves known now that she was no longer under the protection or immediate vicinity of the grumpy red-eyed Aiden and the sour-faced Olivia.

"What a pretty name! It suits you, Miss Granger—or do you prefer Hermione?"

And Hermione had to find her voice even as the strange buzzing mess of sound continued to crowd her mind. Somehow, it'd been muted since she'd arrived up until now. Something had changed somewhere and whatever had kept the madness at bay was slowly crumbling away

Hermione clutched the woman's sleeve, unknowing of when she'd grabbed it again. "Who are you?" she asked, voice hoarse.

The woman smiled, kindly. "Sadara Prewett. Are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Hermione managed a wan smile. "I think," she said, faintly. "I'm going to need some explanations." She was also going to need a place to sit and try and focus to cast some kind of charm. There were a few simple ones she knew—as most witches did. Charms for cramps, headaches and the occasional cut or scrape.

"We love explanations," said Fabian, cheerfully. "We like them even better when we know what they're for. What'd you do to her, Mum? She looks like she's seen Gideon without his-"

"Don't be rude!" Gideon interrupted, face flushing. He knew exactly where his twin was headed with that sentence and he had no intention of letting him finish it. "Behave. She's just a little—" he hesitated.

Fabian snorted. "A little what? She's too young for me, which means she's too young for you, so get your mind out of the-"

"That's not what I meant!" Gideon elbowed him, sharply. "Absolutely not what I meant!"

Sadara shook her head, fondly. "Occasionally, they forget they have an audience," she said, dryly. "Don't pay them any attention. They're always like that. Though he is right. I'm sorry, that must've sounded so strange. I didn't mean to match you up with them, they are too old for you, I'm sure—but I do have plenty of wonderful grandchildren, if you're interested. Your energy is very similar to that of an Earth Witch though. Do you belong to a coven?"

Hermione started. "I'm a what?"

"Earth Witch," Sadara repeated. "Who did you say you were here with?"

"F-friends," Hermione said, faintly.

The twins exchanged a glance. "Library's this way," Fabian said, briskly. "Coming?"

Sadara curled an arm around Hermione's shoulders, turning her to face the twins. "Perhaps you'd best call it a day. I didn't mean anything by it. Your magic is just lovely though. It's very strong and grounding, like an Earth Witch. It's a compliment. My sons will take you to the library, if they start to quibble, just pinch the one closest to you. That will straighten them out."

"Mum!" Identical protests came from the twins. Fabian looked mildly offended while Gideon was thoroughly embarrassed.

Sadara's smile only widened. "Behave yourselves, both of you. Take her straight to the library and see that her friends find her."

"Sadara!" A bushy-haired brunet stood off in the distance, a faint reddish tinge to the tips of his wavy hair. "Coming? We'll lose our seats, if you don't hurry and I don't want to fuss with another upgrade. It'll take too long."

"In a moment, love." She cupped Hermione's cheek for a moment, smoothing her thumb over cool skin. "Whatever it is," she murmured, leaning in close. "It will all be alright. Everything works out in the end. If it doesn't, then you've got to hang on for a little more, hm?"

Hermione stared after her as Sadara disappeared into the flow of passersby. Her words and questions were still stuck in her throat. It had never occurred to her that there were other types of witches, beyond what Hogwarts had taught them. They'd never made distinctions beyond witch or non-witch.

Her mind whirled with a new slew of possibilities that were so different from what she knew, that it was almost as if she could feel her mind slowly cranking open, wider and wider than before. She was grateful that whatever the grumpy Lord Aiden had done, it'd been enough to mute enough of the chaos in her mind, even if the edges of that protection were now slowly fraying away to nothing.

The Twins were now waiting, expectantly and Hermione felt the first fraying strands of embarrassment surface. They were quite handsome in a distinguished sort of way and she felt underdressed and chaotic with their attention fixed on her. "Er—thank you for helping," she said, carefully.

Fabian cleared his throat. "Not that we're going out of our way or anything-"

"He means we were headed there already," Gideon said, dryly. He offered his arm. "Come on, let's be moving. We have a request to make at the archives though and we'd like to avoid a line."

Fabian scowled at him, offering his arm as well. "I wasn't telling her that it was an inconvenience to-"

"I know what you meant," Gideon said, primly. "And Malachi wouldn't have liked it."

"He doesn't like anything we do during the Hunt," Fabian said, smirking. "You'd think he's getting grey hair from it."

"He probably is." Gideon stared upward, thoughtfully. "Can you imagine him with silver hair?"

"Striking with those freaky eyes of his," Fabian agreed. "Goes well with his wings, don't you think?"

They snickered together, thoroughly enjoying their private joke at the expense of the mysterious Malachi.

Hermione cautiously shuffled forward, feeling a bit braver without their eyes on her. She placed a hand on each of their arms, relieved when they simply started walking, still chattering on between themselves.

It was almost amusing to listen to their banter, even though she had no idea who Malachi was or why they were named like—oh. Hermione stumbled, quickly summoning up a smile, in case either of her escorts commented on it.

They didn't, but their steps slowed noticeably, as if to keep from rushing her along. A warm flush spread across her cheeks. They reminded her of Fred and George Weasley.

Albeit an extremely refined Fred and George Weasley. She wondered if this was what the twins would grow into. She could've sworn that somewhere in the Weasley family tree, the twins had been named in memory of their Uncles, Molly's brothers—Gideon and Fabian Prewett.

It can't be! She thought, fiercely. It just can't! Why would they be—here? Happily lost in their own lives when Mrs. Weasley and everyone else was struggling so much in the Wizarding World? It doesn't make any sense at all. I thought—I thought they were dead.

Hermione bit her lip. Thinking about the Weasleys brought a whole new slew of thoughts that she wasn't entirely ready to deal with. Things like Ron and Lavender, things like Harry and a certain, determined Theodore Nott.

A shiver ran down her spine at the memory of Theodore's piercing golden gaze. She was reasonably sure the Slytherin wouldn't allow anything to happen to Harry—sort of. There would always be some sort of mistrust as far as Slytherins'went, but something about the pureblood had appealed to Harry.

Harry, whose incredible luck, often landed him in the worst of situations with the right sort of circumstances. She could only hope that this time, it had favoured him and gifted him the type of loyalty that would do a Gryffindor proud.

"...and that's the library," Gideon announced with a sweeping gesture of his free arm. "Isn't it something?"

"You just like to spend your entire vacation sleeping and reading by the North window," Fabian grumbled. "You don't have to announce it like it's a famous landmark. Well? What do you think of our library?"

Hermione choked. The library was nothing like what she'd expected, given the sleek, smoothness of the more modern structures in the heart of the city. The library was almost old-fashioned compared to them.

It was an open-walled structure, with a massive, bronzed roof supported by elegantly carved pillars—and four extremely large and very much alive, dragons.

"That's the library?" she said, faintly. She was torn between amazement and apprehension, because it was yet another reminder that even the familiar was no longer familiar in this world.

The Twins exchanged faintly amused glances.

"Definitely a library," Fabian said, cheerfully. "Were you after something else? I thought that's what you wanted, but I suppose we could escort you to a secondary destination-"

"I don't think it's the library, Fabe. I'd say you've never seen a Nytura before, eh?" Gideon guessed. "That's a fantastic expression for I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-looking-at. It's a good library though. Plenty of interesting things to read and sometimes they have book sales."

Hermione started. "A-are those dragons?"

Gideon chuckled. "Not quite. It's a Nytura, well, two pairs of them really. Fully-grown. They like to guard structures and things. They're sort of rare-ish outside of Nevarah and certain realms. They live a long time."

"It looks like a dragon," Hermione said, faintly. She allowed them to tow her forward, even as she stared. Her heart gave a hopeful flip at the thought of finding every answer she needed somewhere under that massive roof. "They're huge!"

Fabian shrugged. "Some would call them that, but it's a little more than that. They are family guardians and protectors of a sort. Some dragels keep them as pets or familiars. They will typically mimic a dragon-like appearance, but it's said that they can change that to be more lupine, if desired. They can also grow or shrink to fit available spaces. Specifically, they grow or shrink to guard specific people or places. These have simply grown to protect the library."

Hermione made a faint noise in her throat.

The Twins grinned. "Come on in, I promise it's perfectly normal on the inside."

That was a lie, of course, Hermione knew, when they climbed over one fat black-scaled tail, and edged around one large, clawed forepaw. The library was massive. Just standing at the edge of the entrance where the magical protection gave way to the actual library itself, was another breathtaking moment that left her speechless.

There were no doors. They simply walked from the unprotected outside to the highly protected and magically contained inside. There were shelves that stretched up to the ceiling much higher than the roof, she was sure. Shelves and rows of books upon books stretched out as far as she could see from where she stood.

"Looking for a book or a scroll?" Fabian asked. He led the way to a familiar sort of directory. Much like the one in Hogwarts, a blank, open book, with a strange coloured stick beside it.

"They have new books in. Fabe—they have new books." Gideon hummed, tugging on his twin's sleeve to point in the direction of a massive gilded table with neat stacks of books arranged on top.

"Absolutely not!" Fabian's hand shot out, grabbing Gideon's arm. "Don't you dare disappear into those stacks. Malachi will kill me—and then he'll find you after he's buried me."

Gideon rolled his eyes. "He would not. I'm the better-looking one. He'd spare me."

"Looks have nothing to do with-" Fabian paused, as if remembering himself and Hermione. "Sorry, Miss Granger. Ignore him. We do buy him plenty of books, but he always wants more. We don't even have room for them. Now, what were you looking for?"

"I-I don't know," Hermione said, slowly. "I have a name, I think. I want to find someone. I was hoping for some records or maybe a family registry?"

The Twins exchanged another complicated glance between them.

"Maybe you'd better come to the Ancestry room," Fabian said, tapping his chin. "That's where we were headed anyway. You can request a family tapestry or clan history from there. Most family registries are private, but older versions are usually available. Sometimes they keep it in the archives, but usually the current bits are kept by the Ancestry Room, if it's public knowledge."

"Books?" Gideon asked, plaintively.

Fabian sighed. "Go. Don't find more than you can smuggle home, because I refuse to be banned from traveling, because you can't plan ahead."

Hermione's jaw dropped. A gleeful Gideon scurried off before she could even begin to break down that statement.

Fabian snorted, catching her expression. "Don't think too hard about it. He reads too much and I read too little. It works, somehow. Usually it means he's thinking too hard on something. Come on, Ancestry Records are this way." He led the way through the library, setting a brisk pace that had Hermione trotting to keep up.

At the fancy circular desk near the entrance of the Ancestry Records, Fabian stepped up. "You said you had something for me?" his voice was low and alert.

The young man behind the desk glanced up, a furtive glance around the room, before he slid a folded piece of paper across the marbled desk surface. "I triple checked it. That's her. She's here. In Nevarah. We can put eyes on her, if you like."

Fabian flicked the paper open. He stared at the contents for a long moment, then crumpled the paper, swatting it back across the desk and into the young man's lap. "She came alone?"

The young man hesitated. "She came with Fae."

"Fae?"

"The Fae Queen's favourite nephew and a companion. They entered through an emergency clause under the Fae Queen's provisions. There was even a Dryad, a Succubus and two wild magic users of-"

Hermione's head snapped up. The gears were churning furiously in her mind and she could practically taste the answers she sought. The pressure in her head grew to a pounding headache. She grimaced, touching a hand to her forehead. Her wand slipped from her sleeve and she struggled to recite the words that would cast the right healing charm.

Fabian growled, faintly. "And no soulmate and no children?"

"One of the girls might be a daughter. She's not listed. There's no names and the Fae requested no registrations for the sake of their privacy. You know how fussy they can be. Did you want eyes on them or no?"

He scowled, glaring up at the high ceiling. "Because she's smart enough to know that we'd check the names and guess who was where. Did she try to contact anyone at all?"

"...your mother."

"Damn it, Molly!" Fabian spun away from the desk and straight into a broad chest covered in dark velvet robes. "Watch where you're going, you-!"

"Really?" the man said, perfect eyebrows arched in neat curves. "And here I thought we'd gotten past that. Is it really that bad, Fabian?"

Fabian scowled. He snapped something else off in dragel tongue that earned him a light flick to the ear from the mystery man. "It's my family," he growled. "Don't you dare tell me what I can or can't do with-"

"And you're better behaved than that," the man said, calmly. "We can't help the family we're born into, but we can pick the ones we want to stay around us. Whatever she chose, it was her choice of her own freewill. That doesn't mean she can't choose again."

"She made her pick years ago. Pushing everyone away for the sake of her one true idiot-!" Fabian leaned away from the arms that reached for him. "Don't, Malachi." He warned. "I want to be angry."

"I know," Malachi said, simply. He pulled him closer anyway, tucking Fabian's head beneath his chin. "You've a famous temper to live up to and I'm sure you'll have an impressive display to make of it later. Now is not the time. Where's Gideon?"

"New book table, where else?"

"...we don't have room for more books."

"Don't we?"

"Fabian."

"I told him not to buy more than he could smuggle through the front door."

Malachi sighed. "Someone will be very upset with you."

"I'll live. He'll need the distraction when he hears this."

"Mmhm. Is this Earth Witch with you?"

Fabian started. A brief flicker of apology shone in his soft hazel eyes. "Sorry, Miss Granger—this is my Alpha, Malachi." He gestured between them. "Malachi, this is Miss Hermione Granger, Mum picked her up on the way to the auditorium and we brought her to the library. She's misplaced her companions during the Hunt. We were trying to help. I was—distracted."

Hermione made herself smile as best as she could, but she was practically vibrating on her feet. "I didn't lose them, really. I just—they lost me."

A smile tugged at the corners of Malachi's mouth. His measured gaze swept over her from head to toe, before he gave a nod of welcome. "Sometimes even the best of friends can do that," he said, warmly. "You're welcome to stay with us if you need to. We're attending the Hunt today, there'll be food and possibly pranks." He shot a stern look at Fabian. "Mostly food."

Fabian gave his best innocent look. "Pranks? Me?" he said, incredulous. "It's almost like you don't trust us."

"I know you—and your other half. That innocent look doesn't work on me." Malachi kissed the corner of Fabian's mouth, humming softly. "Go find Gideon. If I have to drag him out of here by the ears-"

"He'll pout," Fabian said, knowingly. "And if he pouts, then I'll have to do the same. He's been on edge ever since—well, he's been on edge. You know why. He's trying to distract himself."

"And you'll both drive me to distraction if I have to keep tabs on both of you today. Off with you. Now. We can deal with the rest of the Molly-situation when we're all together." He turned Fabian in the direction of the stairs and gave him a nudge. "I'll wait with Miss Granger."

Hermione looked both pleased and troubled at the same time. "You don't really," she said, half-heartedly. "I just needed to check—" she winced. The headache charm was mostly dulling the pain, but now her teeth began to ache.

"A name?" Malachi prompted. "I'm sure they can find something for you with that. They're very good at finding people." He nodded to the young man behind the desk. "Would you start a serach for a-?"

"...Harry James Potter?" Hermione said, slowly. She wondered if she should mention Charlie or not. She had a sneaky suspicion there was more to her red-headed helpers than they'd revealed and she definitely wanted them to stick around long enough to ask a few questions. "Or maybe Theodore Nott Jr.? I don't know if there's anything here that'll-"

"Would you spell that, please?" the young man tapped something on the desk behind the counter and flicked a bar of light over at her.

To Hermione's surprise, a pale blue holographic keyboard appeared in front of her. She hesitated for a moment, scanning the keys to find the letters she wanted. A minute later, she'd tapped out both names.

"Are they bonded?" the young man asked. He tapped away at the returned keyboard. Seconds later, he flicked through a few holographic files, partially hidden from view. "I have one Harry Potter bonded to a Theodore Gorgens-Nott, does that sound familiar?"

Malachi looked to Hermione. He frowned as she rubbed her temples.

She forced a smile. "W-would you have a picture?"

"Certainly. They are attending the Hunt and have taken several for reference." The young man tapped a few more things and then flicked a new blue box over the counter.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat. It was Harry. There was also Theo and Charlie. A group picture and individual images. Her heart fluttered, straining feebly inside of her as she stared at Harry's nervous, but excited face.

It was almost like right before his first Quidditch match. A blend of excitement and exhilaration. He was happy. Not at all like the last time she'd seen his expression, tight and drawn and miserable. Before she'd given into the exhaustion and the heaviness.

Before she'd given into whatever darkness had driven her to the Forbidden Forest.

Her hands clenched at her sides. She'd find out what did that and why, but first, she had a friend to find and an apology to make. He deserved that much at least and then, it was up to him whether he still wanted her friendship. If he did, she'd gladly renew that—and make sure that her loyalty was clear enough that he'd never doubt it.

It hurt her heart to think that he wouldn't know what had really happened. That he might've thought she'd abandoned him or gone off like Ron had. Something had happened to Ron and she hadn't the chance to spare a thought for him.

"Would you like to send a message or a favour?" The young man asked.

Malachi glanced from her to the holographic images. "We'll send a message," he said, briskly. "Charge the cost to our accounts, please."

"Oh, you don't have to-" Hermione started to say, blushing when he simply favoured her with a kind expression. "...thank you. I don't know much about—here—yet."

"I've lived here most of my life and I still don't know all about it," Malachi said, easily. He held his wrist over a glowing square in the counter, and a small window popped up to show the transaction in progress. "You can say whatever you like in the message. There's no limit or restriction."

"Do you want a written or recorded message?" the young man asked, fingers hovering over his keyboard.

"Recorded, please," Hermione said, quickly. If she thought too deeply, she'd try to say too much and make a mess of it. A recorded message, no matter how brief, would at least let Harry know that she was alright.

And maybe, he'd even want to see her again. After all, he had brought her to Nevarah, hadn't he?

THEO, CHARLIE, ETHAN AND OTHERS - AIDEN'S COURT

"There's someone waiting for you," the Shadow Gheyo said, bowing deeply to Lord Aiden and the others.

Aiden growled.

The Shadow Gheyo sighed. "For your guests, your lordship," he clarified. "They do not seek your audience in your official capacity."

"Send them away," Aiden said, annoyed. "I'm not of a mind to have any sort of-"

"Harry's affinity is not to Shadow," Ethan said, quietly. "It is to lightness and goodness, which suggests an Air affinity and as he has bonded to myself and Theodore, an Earth affinity. Perhaps even a little to Fire." He tipped his head to where Charlie waited just outside of the throne room with Harry safely cradled in his arms. "If there is someone here for us, I would very much like to be excused, so that we might-"

Aiden's eyes glowed a brighter shade, as the shadows in the room stretched up to the cathedral ceiling. From the nonstop rumble in his throat, he did not like that idea at all, though he did not say so outright.

Theo offered a solemn bow, his gaze averted. "We would gladly answer your summons at any time, especially for any information regarding Miss Granger. In light of our current circumstance, however, I humbly request that you to excuse us this once, as I am-" Theo glanced to the doorway. "Concerned for my Submissive and do not wish to cause him any unnecessary distress by straying too far from his side."

The shadows in the room grew oppressively thick, gradually hiding Aiden from view. "Go!" He said, crossly. "And see that you remember what you've said and what we've spoken of. If it were not for what you are, you would not leave this court!'

"Of course, we are grateful for your kindness."

"You are in my debt," Aiden growled.

"We understand," Theo ground out. "and we are grateful for your consideration." He was grateful for Ethan's steadiness that thrummed through their shared bond. His temper was fraying at the edges and he knew it was far too dangerous to give into such urges now.

"You should be." There was a near rasping snarl on Aiden's voice as if he were half-transformed into his fearsome hellhound self, but it was too difficult for anyone to see anything now. The darkness in the room had thickened and spread, threatening to swallow anyone still within reach.

Ethan tugged on Theo's sleeve, guiding him out of the room, as they both gave one last bow—and escaped as quickly as they could. The doors to the throne room slammed shut behind them, the moment they were safely in the hall.

Theo clenched his fangs, a sharp hiss escaping. He made no move to pry Ethan off of him, when his new Pareya all but wrapped around him as if he were a living blanket. He quivered; head tipped back to glower up at the darkened ceiling. He counted one, two and three breaths, before he could forcibly calm himself down.

Arms wrapped tightly around Theo; Ethan buried his face in the crook of Theo's neck. He pressed his magic and calmness through their new bond, willing it to reach all of his bonded. He tried to pat and stroke at every part of Theo that he could reach, his scales already surfacing along his arms and face.

His own temper simmered deeply within his veins, but he knew Theo had read the situation correctly. They were at a disadvantage when it came to the Shadow elements and definitely when it came to Lord Aiden and anything within Death's Court.

"It's fine," Theo growled.

"...I know," Ethan said, softly. He didn't stop though, but added soft chirps to his insistent ministrations and gentle kiss to the Theo's strong jaw. "It's fine. You did well."

"Theo?" Charlie called out.

Ethan and Theo turned as one to see their remaining Bonded standing a few feet away. Tension drained out of Theo's stiff form. Ethan reluctantly stepped back, his eyes bright gold. At least Charlie and Harry looked alright.

Charlie's face broke into a relieved grin. "I was starting to think I'd have to go back in and get you," he said. "Wasn't looking forward to that. What happened?"

"Hermione happened," Theo said, darkly. "She is his sworn Consort by his own admission, but she's also escaped her shadowy cage. He's looking for her and he knows that we helped her—or rather, that Severus helped her."

"Ah. Rampaging then?" Charlie shook his head. "Hermione won't stand for that."

He could picture the short-tempered man facing off against a certain, stubborn witch. Ron's tales of their Hogwarts adventures had been quite entertaining at times, but also reminiscent of each of them. Charlie had a feeling that Lord Aiden was in for a good surprise whenever he caught up to Hermione.

That is, if Hermione let herself be caught. She was a clever witch and Charlie was sure that she'd do everything within her power to keep her freedom. Being tied down to a Hellhound was no small matter.

"I sincerely doubt he knows or cares," Theo grumbled. He scowled deeply as the hallway trembled. "He'll bring this place down around our ears, at this rate. We need to leave."

Ethan nudged him. "Complain later," he said, taking charge. "For now, we need somewhere that Harry will be most comfortable. I worry that he will sleep for days on end. What he has just experienced is no simple thing. The strain is tremendous, especially when we are so few and cannot share his burdens."

"He's sharing a little bit," Theo said, rubbing his face. "I don't know if you can feel it, but I do. It's like a drain. A slight, but steady draw on your energy. I can feel it. In fact, I can't help but feel it."

Ethan and Charlie exchanged a glance. Ethan shook his head. "My bond might be too new. I can't sense any of that, but I can tell that he's still himself, right now. Just—sad."

"Considering what he's been through today—what we've all been through, I'm surprised it's just sadness," Theo said. "But we do need a place to stay."

"The Peverell's have hosted us so far," Charlie began, before he caught himself. He tried not to wince as he met Theo's stormy gaze.

"Yes, they've hosted us. I get the feeling that we're in the way though," Ethan said, wearily. "I would offer my own room, but I'm afraid it's exactly that. One room. A very large studio apartment room, but even so, it's not entirely mine. The Hartwood Clan rents it out or lends it during the Hunt to whichever branch of the family requires a study space or additional lodgings. I gave it up when I sent in the bonding registration paperwork."

Theo perked a brow. "You sent in the paperwork already?"

Ethan shrugged. "Pareya thing."

"Couldn't you ask them for it anyway?" Charlie shifted Harry in his arms. He was grateful for the featherlight charm that bore the majority of Harry's weight, but feeling him so light in his arms had stirred up a whole new layer of protective instincts that he hadn't realized he could give.

"I could. I'm sure they would make it happen. Especially as we are newly bonded, that usually takes priority." Ethan looked to Theo. "If we had to, then would it be-"

"The Peverell's are fine," Theo said, shortly.

"They are not. You are unsettled by their element and what you perceive to be deceptions within their ranks." Ethan rubbed his face. "You would be upset and uneasy and by default, that would filter over to Harry. Especially since he's drawing on you. His Empathy would still read your discomfort, even if he is unconscious, it could cause difficulties."

"...I'm not upset."

"And neither am I," Ethan half-growled. "I'm furious."

"Then where would you suggest we stay?" Theo tried to keep the impatience from his voice, but knew he hadn't succeeded when Ethan's gold eyes dimmed a bit.

A hint of black began to creep in around the corners, suggesting that Ethan was about to dip deeper into his elemental reserves than before. And perhaps unleash a little bit of his own tightly-wrapped temper.

"We could always look for vacancies at one of the main city hotels or an Inn somewhere along the shoreline," Ethan said, briskly. "It isn't impossible."

"But?" Charlie prompted.

"But during the Hunt they are usually all full. Reservations are set up months, if not years in advance. Of course they do build extensions and expansions every year, but things change."

Charlie sighed. "Then that won't help at all." He frowned. "Even if it would, could we afford it?"

Ethan's now-hazel eyes flicked to Theo and then away. "...I will ask my family," he said, at last. "They will make room for us. It is no burden. It will just be a little cramped, is all." Ethan patted Harry's shoulder, smoothing a finger down his cheek.

Theo made a soft sound in his throat. "I can't ask you to make requests of your family when we have some weight of our own to-"

"Ethan," Charlie murmured, moving forward. "Hold him, please."

There was a slight flare of surprise in Ethan's face, before he dutifully held his arms out and accepted Harry's unconscious form. He didn't question the shift though, but instead, focused his attention on Harry's sleeping face.

"Theodore," Charlie said, softly.

With Harry settled with Ethan, it meant that he could shift his own attention to the one who needed it most. He waited until Theo's wary golden eyes fixed on him.

"Can it wait?" Theo asked, twitching uncomfortably. He didn't like the way the shadows were now spilling out into the hallway and creeping closer to their little group. His instincts veered towards the edge. He needed to be out of here soon—all of them.

"Lean on me, please," Charlie said.

His voice was soft enough that Theo had to strain to hear it. The words registered with a flash of surprise, immediate disagreement and then a small measure of despair.

"Please," Charlie repeated. "I may not be exactly the kind of Beta that I could've been, if I'd had some sort of support in the past, or been raised like this with even half of the information that you have, but this is where we are now. I've managed to take care of myself for a while, in the middle of a Dragon reserve, I might add. You learn things. There's a lot to pick up." He rolled up his sleeve, showing the Alpha-Beta markings from their special bond. "I don't know all the particulars about elements and Circles and asking favours, but I do know family—blood or forged, has some sort of loyalty. I know that you're clever enough to keep all of us together and away from the kind of troublesome situations that led to this—" he gestured around them, at the creeping shadows.

Theo's face had shifted to a blank mask. As if he didn't dare allow any kind of expression to show in the moment. But it was his shimmering, bright white-gold eyes that gave him away. The hint of emotion that was heart-wrenching to see.

Charlie held his hands out, waiting. "You know what you're doing, but you worry too much. You don't need to. Even if I don't know what to do—yet—I will learn. I can always learn. So can Ethan. This is new to all of us in different ways and it means we need to learn and adjust. Just like everything else in life. The only difference is we have each other—and it's a together forever kind of bond."

A strangled sound came from Theo's throat. His gaze dropped to Charlie's broad, tanned hands. The invitation was nearly too much.

"I can't help you, if I don't know what to help with. Talk to me. Talk to both of us. Ethan knows his family better than either of us do. If it's an option, we'll take the option. I know you want to give Harry everything that he wants, but that doesn't mean you have to do it at the expense of yourself or your instincts."

"...it's not that simple."

"Then don't try to make it simple," Charlie said, readily. "Let it be whatever it is, but handle it without worrying if you're stepping on anyone's toes or-"

"Claws," Theo muttered. He reached out, slipping his smaller hands into Charlie's own warm ones. "The saying is not to step on anyone's claws."

Charlie half-smiled. "Alright. No worries about stepping on my claws or my delicate feelings. It hurts when you don'ttrust me and I can't help, because I don't know how. Someday I will. So, it's not forever like this."

"Growing pains?" Theo said, taking a deep breath. There was no denying that just being this much closer to Charlie made him feel better already.

"...I guess." Charlie hugged him tightly, lips brushing against his temple. He pushed a healthy dose of warmth into Theo's smaller form. He could feel the exhaustion and worry rolling off of his Alpha in steady waves.

"Alright. We'll go with Ethan's option," Theo said, at last. "Thank you."

"Thank you for listening to me," Charlie said, simply.

Theo sighed into the kiss that followed. "It's part of a Circle," he mumbled. "That's how it works. Everything together for a better outcome."

From the sidelines, Ethan smiled. The final bit of his Pareyic headache smoothed out right there. He was glad to see that Charlie was able to tackle something like this on his own, without needing to be dramatic or short-tempered about it, as his element might demand.

In fact, now that he considered it, Charlie had been rather calm for a Fire Elemental to begin with. What a lovely bit of luck. Then again, he couldn't overlook his own role in this. If he hadn't been there, Charlie might not have felt so at ease at trying to reach out to Theo.

They spoke in low, soft murmurs for another handful of minutes, but Ethan barely minded. He was already thinking of how he could phrase their request and whether there were enough guest linens from when he'd helped during their spring cleaning.

The moment they stepped out from the looming shadow that was Aiden's domain, the entire Shadow section seemed to open up. The invisible pressure and depression of Death and darkness was now tangled up in the pure night air, blown away under the soft glow of the moonlight.

A single shadow pulled away from the rows of stone statues lining the exit walkway. Footsteps, light but purposeful, announced the figure until they were close enough to make out.

Theo couldn't suppress a flare of hope at seeing none other than Quinn Kalzik coming up the walkway to meet them. He could see a burning fire set within Quinn's piercing gaze and couldn't help, but wonder what was happening now.

Quinn paused a few feet away, offering a formal bow. He tapped his throat and gave an apologetic smile.

"Quinn," Theo greeted, remembering the Healer's current state. "Is something the matter?"

Quinn reached out, hesitating halfway. His hand fell back to his side and he gave a slight shrug.

Charlie's bright eyes flicked between Quinn and Theo. "This is Ethan Hartwood, our new Pareya," he said, quickly. "He is with us."

There was the faintest quirk of Quinn's lips, before he relaxed. He made a handful of signs, with a grateful look at Charlie.

"Ah—not really good with that," Charlie said, slowly. "Theo?"

Theo shook his head. "No Kyle?" He looked past Quinn. "Ah. He went with Dahlia. Right. I guess we'd need a new interpreter."

"Would a mental connection be easier?" Ethan asked, brows furrowed at the message so hastily spelled. He'd only caught some of what Quinn had signed and it was hard to guess at it. He was glad he'd already given Harry back to Charlie, because now his hands were free. "If you don't mind, that is. I know some finger-spelling and very basic signs; I do not wish to be rude or to misinterpret."

A wan smile touched Quinn's face. He dug in his pocket for a small slab of black rock and tapped the surface twice. Silvery letters began to form.

Is Harry alright?

Ethan's eyebrows curved up in surprise. That was a very promising opening for the famed Quinn Kalzik, Harry had gone on about. "Harry's—been better," he allowed. "I don't quite know what he went through, but-"

"Maia Kadel saw him," Charlie said, calmly. "She said he would need to rest for a few days and that he was alright otherwise."

Another, careful nod came from Quinn, as if he were processing that information directly and wasn't sure that he liked it. Did she prescribe anything for him?

"Not that I was told." Charlie eased past Ethan so Quinn could have a better look at the unconscious Harry in his arms. "She said his vitals were fine, a little weak, but alright. He's expended a great deal of magic."

And been around a lot of magic too. Quinn bit his lip. I promised him a SoulCast.

"I don't think he's in any condition for a SoulCast," Theo said, frowning. "And right now, we're looking for a place to stay."

You could stay with me.

Everyone stared.

Quinn waved his hands, a slight flush colouring his cheeks. I mean, in the Main Kalzik Estate. We have many guesthouses for our patients. There is always a dozen or so open. It would be very private and quite secluded from the outside and the main house, but that is to facilitate Circle Bonding and quicker recovery for the patients.

Theo frowned, watching the words appear and disappear on the black tile. "I wouldn't mean to refuse your hospitality," he said, at last. "But we do not have the same quarrel with the Kadel's, as your parents. They have been kind to us and were introduced through Henry and Cora Peverell. I don't want to jeopardize Harry's future interactions with them for the sake of-"

If it were a petty grudge, I would call it so. But it is not. Quinn's lips pressed into a thin line. I respect my parents deeply and would never dare to ask you to shoulder their personal preferences in regards to your Submissive.

The formal wording set Theo's fangs on edge, even as Charlie edged closer to him. He bristled, protectively. "Don't give me excuses. A single, clear explanation would work fine."

Quinn huffed. I don't have a problem with the Kadels and I am the one offering a temporary place of residence. Is that clear enough?

"Almost. Why don't you have a problem with them?"

In case you've forgotten, I saved their youngest daughter from a forced transformation gone awry. I do not wish them any ill-will and they do not see me as a threat.

"Theo," Charlie said, softly. "It's more than we can do on our own right now, can we accept?"

It was plain to see the hesitation in Theo's face. He wanted to take the offer, if only to have somewhere that was not the Peverell Estate.

"Just for the night or so," Ethan added. "We won't have to stay, if you don't want to, but it's a good opportunity."

"You don't mind that she saw to him?" Theo had to ask Quinn. He needed to be sure he wasn't dragging them all into a Healer-vs-Clan feud of some sort. "or that she may visit again?"

That is her choice. If she has chosen to take him under her care, I will not stand in her way. However, once you are safely settled in one of the guesthouses, my parents shouldn't mind who comes or goes.

"Shouldn't or won't?" Charlie pressed. "Theo's right. Harry doesn't have the same—issues. He'll see both of you as good people who helped when he needed it." Charlie looked to Theo for confirmation.

"He will," Theo said. "That's just how he is. I'm not asking that you pick a side, but if you are neutral, then the same needs to be true for the space."

You will be there at my request. No one will have any authority over your stay or your quarters, beyond myself. Quinn hesitated. Only with the permission of your Pareya, of course.

"How long?" Theo scrubbed a hand through his hair. "What if we need more than a day or two?"

You can stay until I've completed Harry and Charlie's Soulcasts. Quinn's lips twitched. I might even be persuaded to include Mr. Hartwood.

"Ethan's fine," said Ethan, grinning. "And I think I'm going to like you very much, Healer Kalzik. You've come at the right time."

Quinn, please, if you are to be just Ethan.

"Quinn, it is. Lead the way. I think we're all eager to see to Harry's comforts and be away from this dark court."

Of course. May I 'port you?

"Gladly." Ethan drew Theo and Charlie close to him with a hand on each of their shoulders. Quinn bracketed them on the other side and with a brilliant flare of blue-green energy, they were whisked away to the Kalzik Estate.

KALZIK FAMILY, MAIN ESTATE : GUEST COTTAGE : HARRY AND CO. + QUINN

Ethan practically melted at the clean and cosy interior of the guesthouse. It was small—meant to hold four or five Bonded at the most—and it was lovely. There were grounding runes everywhere. All the materials were made with earth-affinity materials and even the air was lightly scented with something divine. His Earth elemental instincts had started an instant purr of appreciation and he had yet to stop.

Theo eyed him in mild amusement, standing at the doorway with Charlie. They'd been regulated to wait on the doorstep while Ethan satisfied his Pareyic instincts by verifying the new living space was free of threats and suitable for all of them.

Charlie shifted Harry in his arms again, the slight furrow of concern easing just a fraction as he watched Ethan's flurry of movement. He'd never really seen a true Pareya in work, besides Terius and everything that the older man had done seemed quite strange compared to Ethan's fussing.

Theo made no comment as Ethan flitted through the room, poking, straightening and examining everything in the master bedroom, the entry hall, the kitchen and wherever else he could see from the doorway. The guesthouse was nicely furnished and compactly built.

When he was through with the apparent inspection, Ethan stood in the entryway hands stretched out, palms flat on each wall that he could reach, to cast a set of deep, runic wards. His magic, a vibrant, yellow-gold, rushed out of him, leaving a faint tinge of sparkle that lingered long enough to be proof of the magic anchoring.

A weight lifted off of Theo at the thought of someone else taking care that they wouldn't be caught unaware. He already knew the ward he wanted to layer over Ethan's and briefly mused whether Charlie knew anything specific to his element. The more complex, the better and different elements would definitely add a special touch.

"Very nice," Ethan pronounced, at last. "You can set him on the bed, Charlie." He looked to Theo for approval, unable to help the starting blush. His instincts were so close to the surface for this. The urge to make sure that all of their living spaces were clean and comfortable, per his standards.

"Good Pareya," Theo murmured. He nuzzled Ethan's cheek, briefly, noting the way it made him light up. That was good to know. He filed it away for later use, before following Charlie to the bed. He saw that Harry was settled and then cast a few monitoring spells of his own, before retreating to strengthen Ethan's wards with his own.

Quinn reappeared in the bedroom, his arms filled with fluffy duvets. Shimmering teal letters floated above his head, a glowing string of runes at the base of this throat to show the spell was still active.

Found more blankets. You'll want to keep him warm. How's the room? The house? Any changes? We had an Earth triad in here last, so it's very grounded. If you need any of the power outputs in the runes adjusted, let me know. I can alter it for you.

"It's wonderful," Ethan said, following him over to the bed. "I don't think I want to leave."

"We can stay," Theo said, joining them again. He liked the feel of his magic running through Ethan's and filling every corner of the little guesthouse. "I like it. Feels much better than everywhere else we've been, minus the beach house, I guess. The runes are more than fine. Thank you for having us, Quinn. Especially during the Hunt. I know it must be busy for-"

It's no trouble at all. I'm glad you like it. We do our best to make sure that the cottages are thoroughly grounded and welcoming to all patients. Do let me know if you need anything at all. Don't hesitate to ask.

"Meals?" Ethan asked. "Any potions or treatments?"

Blood or sugar is best, if he wakes. Quinn set his fluffy armful on the edge of the bed. I'll check on him in a bit. The longer he can relax before my magic interacts, the better. I'll run a few diagnostics in an hour or so. He seems to be fine right now, so there's no need to worry.

Theo gave a slow nod. "Thank you."

Do you cook? Quinn looked to Ethan. I made sure there were groceries and some prepped food in the kitchen. You're welcome to make whatever you like. Whenever something runs down to about a quarter of the original quantity, it should restock automatically.

Ethan grimaced. "Would love to say yes, but that would be a very bad idea. I haven't the knack for it, though I appreciate the thought."

Cooking is more than a knack. It's mostly practice and learning how much salt and when to add it. Quinn's brow furrowed. What have you all been eating?

"Lewis was hosting us, so Cora's Pareya helped and then we just ate whatever at the Hunt," Ethan said, sheepishly. "I usually order out from Herrons."

Quinn's look of extreme disapproval was reminiscent of Surajini. Hands on hips, he clicked his tongue against his teeth, shaking his head. That is not acceptable! Harry is a young Submissive that still requires extra minerals, increased proteins and measured levels of sugar and blood. A diet of takeout-dining is not an option. The condition of his wing-scales alone will show that. He needs a properly balanced diet and extra proteins.

Ethan blinked. "I-I was not given any dietary restrictions or improvements," he said, slowly. "I don't mean to offend, but I would have made provisions, if I was aware that there were specific requirements for-"

"Harry's been eating whatever he likes whenever he gets it," Charlie said, calmly. "This isn't something to blame on anyone, Quinn. I can cook, a little. Kept myself alive in the middle of a dragon reserve, so that counts for something. I don't know if it meets all of those requirements, but I'm game to try."

Quinn frowned. He wasn't in the mood to deal with this. Not now. Not when Harry lay on the bed, still and unmoving, somehow within reach and untouchable at the same time. I don't have time to supervise you. I'll just have to do it myself.He turned on his heel with a huff, still scowling as he stalked out of the room.

Theo stared after him and then at an equally bewildered Ethan. "I didn't give you any dietary restrictions, because apart from the tooth gel prescribed, I haven't seen anything else that regulates Harry's diet—or ours, for that matter. We have been eating whatever, because there's no real issue with it. At least, not that I know of."

"I didn't realize it was so important here," Charlie said, scratching his head. "I know food's important and proper nutrition and all that, but it isn't like we've been—well, I don't know. Is it really that bad?"

"For Harry? By his standards, it's probably horrible," Ethan said, sighing. "He's a stickler for rules, isn't he? That face is very deceiving."

Theo's lips twitched. "Is it?"

"Yes! He looks angelic and innocent, then he hits you with enough information to make your brain turn to mush." Ethan continued on, his brow furrowed. "It's good, but on the other hand, it isn't as if I've been feeding you junk food. I have made sure that I've ordered from all the necessary food groups and I know he's been taking blood from all of us without being prompted. A little more sugar, probably would've helped. Mostly, anyway. I should have-"

"Not your fault," Theo said, catching sight of the shadow on Ethan's face. He crossed the room to wrap his arms around Ethan. He squeezed, gently, until Ethan's stiff shoulders relaxed. "You can't work with what you don't know when it comes to this. We're all learning and it will take time."

"Lots of time," Charlie said, easing onto the bed beside Harry. "There were a bunch of files and things from the first Clinic visit though. Maybe it was in there?"

Theo hesitated. "Perhaps. I went through the receipts and I did read the exam readout, but there was no specific directions for any dietary restrictions." He guided Ethan to the bed and they crowded around, watching Harry sleep.

"He looks so peaceful," Ethan muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "For everything that he's just been through and here he is—sleeping."

"I hope it's a peaceful sleep," Charlie said, a flash of fire in his blue-eyes. "And we need a better plan of action before something like this happens again. Theo?"

Theo's lips twitched. "You read my mind," he said, simply. "It won't be easy though and we do need to have Harry on board with the main..."

"Scheme?" Charlie offered.

"...plan," Theo corrected. "Scheming sounds so petty."

"Plans are fine," Ethan said, wearily. "Did you have something in mind?"

"If Harry doesn't have control over those seals or what could happen because of it, then we need to be better prepared for situations like this. Different magic, different healers and no set place to stay—we're barely keeping our heads above the water here and that's not much at all. We're lucky that Quinn came along and that he's willing to make the extra effort to keep us here, but I don't like our current situation or the odds."

"Odds?" Charlie mused. He eased back to sit further up the bed, his back resting against the headboard. He studied Harry's calm, sleeping face. The stress-lines no longer so prominent and his dark lashes resting against his cheek. Ethan was right. He was definitely peaceful like this.

"Harry has a very strange sort of luck," Theo said, tiredly. "And my own luck is twisted and troublesome enough, so-"

"Mine's fine," Ethan said. "And I'd guess that Charlie's is fine too."

Theo glanced between them. "What would make you say that?"

"Luck is what you make of opportunity and circumstance," Ethan said, simply. "And I make the most of mine, as Charlie has done as well. Don't put that much stock into it."

Theo scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Luck is what makes it easier to rate or take a gamble," he said, slowly. "I can play with odds when I know we'll win. In Harry's case, I don't have enough time to plan, before things are disrupted all over again. It's always a fifty-fifty chance that we could win or lose. I don't like those odds, but I can't stack them in our favour unless we have more leverage."

"Alright," Ethan said, slowly. "So we'll just have to make room for you to do whatever it is that you need to do, to turn things in our favour. That's basically extra time, isn't it?"

"Mostly."

"We have three days right now," Charlie said. "That's enough to get some things in order, isn't it?"

"Three days?" Ethan frowned. "How do you figure that?"

"Maia Kadel said she'd visit in three days. I'm pretty sure she meant to return when Harry was awake, because it wouldn't do him much good to be left out of things. She didn't exactly explain herself, but I'd guess that someone who can read prophecies and wager with the future, would know for sure."

Theo nodded. "We need three things," he said, ticking them off on one hand. "A place of our own to stay, finances distributed in multiple places and some sleeping assets, so we won't starve to death, if it comes down to it and a logical way to get Harry's seals off. Not just wandering between Elemental districts or stumbling across the right people."

"Didn't Quinn assign things?" Ethan wanted to know.

"Tooth gel," Theo said, annoyed. "And a mention that he'd been in contact with requesting assistance from the necessary Clan Heads for the family Seals—both his mother's side and his father's. I think he requested outside help as well, but I never heard anything back."

"Maybe it isn't Quinn's fault," Charlie said, slowly. "I mean, the lady at the clinic—Matron Olivia? She didn't seem very happy about our business."

"I don't think she's ever happy about anything," Theo said, darkly. "And if she's had some sort of hand in this-"

"Calm down," Ethan said, firmly. "No wishing death and destruction because all the variables aren't clear yet." He rubbed his forehead, eyes burning gold.

"Death and destruction?" Theo said, unable to resist the urge to fold his arms across his chest. "I don't plan for-"

"Harry is your world, as he is—or will be, eventually, to the rest of us. That means we'll do whatever it takes to see him happy and well-cared for in all aspects. It also means if we aren't careful, our instincts may start a war when we only need to win the battle in front of us."

"You lost me," Charlie said, flatly. He flumped on the bed, rolling a bit close to Harry's side. "I don't have a bloodthirsty streak, if that's what you're worried about."

Theo grunted. "You're too mild-mannered for a Fire type. It makes me twitchy."

Charlie grinned. "I've always been that way, according to Mum. Anyway, back to Quinn. He did request some things, we could ask him when he returns. I'm fairly certain he's the one banging things around in the kitchen right now."

Predictably, all three of them turned to stare at the bedroom door. It was easy to pick up the sounds of kitchen pots and pans, clanging together, while cupboard doors were opened and closed.

"Alright," Theo said, slowly. "What are you trying to say?"

"We can work other angles. We know Lewis is working on his own," Charlie said. "So that leaves, what? His mother's side hasn't responded to anything, have they?" He sat up from the bed, waiting.

"The Evansons?" Ethan perked up. "We went to the library to check on that, actually. In fact, I bought a copy of one of their ancestral tapestries. Let's see—where did I put it..."

"You bought a copy? When?" Theo tugged at his shirt collar, undoing the top three buttons.

"Right after we met," Ethan said. He rummaged around in mid-air, then brightened. "Ah, here we go. I knew I stashed it in a pocket. Here we go." He held up a neatly rolled replica, handing the roll to Charlie. "Here, hold your side."

"When did you go to the library?" Theo twisted around to read the tapestry as it unravelled.

Ethan half-smiled. "When Harry asked. Right before we came to you, actually. He asked for a copy of it when we went to see it in the archives and I guess we just didn't get around to looking at it later with everything that happened after that."

Theo made a sound in his throat, but didn't comment. Instead, he ran his finger down the main strands of the tree, tracing along some pathway that only he knew.

To Ethan's surprise, Theo traced an odd, but somewhat similar pathway as Harry had, for he ended up at the same point on the tapestry with the Dursley's marked.

Charlie leaned forward, trying not to move the bed too much as he squinted at the letters. "That's not his only living relative," he said, slowly. "I mean, there's other branches and-"

"Evanson, Evanson," Ethan mumbled, half to himself. "I should know this, I really should—it's either because they've been off the circuit at some point or they are more involved with the—ah! That's right. They had a Wildfire Circle. That explains some, but not all. I didn't keep up with too much outside of the Earth Clans, because it's a lot of history to memorize."

Both Theo and Charlie looked to him expectantly.

"Which part?" Ethan asked, lips twitching.

"Start with Wildfire," Charlie prompted.

"A Wildfire Circle is a dragel Circle that is Fae-heavy. It's sort of the unofficial nickname for them. It means that half or more of their ranks are comprised of Fae or are gifted with Fae magic, that is complimentary to most dragel Fire elementals."

Charlie hummed. That made sense.

"As for Evanson. They're a Fire Clan, overall. Some Air ties, I believe, but mostly Fire-Heavy. I believe one of the Noble ladies, a 2nd-in-line heiress, Bonded into a mixed Fire and Air Circle and brought their standing pretty high. They sort of lurked in the background, but they had a few Clan Chiefs out of the bloodline."

"Impressive," Theo said, at last. "A Clan Chief ranking and status takes some serious work."

Ethan shrugged. "And a lot of effort and coordination. They must be a solid Circle. We could send our own official request to have the seal removed. There's no harm in it. A second request might prompt them to take us more seriously."

"Seriously?" Theo's eyes fluxed from gold to hazel. "An official Healer's request isn't serious enough?"

"It's the Hunt," Ethan said, simply. "Some Circles will put off what they can, until the Hunt is over. Then they take their time sifting through the backlog. Particularly if they're social Circles, it could be awhile. Multiple requests stand out when they sort through the paperwork, so it doesn't hurt to fuss a little. They seem to have more social standing than anything else, so they'll probably notice a second request."

"Will you handle that?"

Ethan perked up. "Gladly. Anything specific you'd like out of it?"

"...no. Whatever needs to be done. It's your headache now." Theo ticked something off on his fingers, silently counting, before he turned to Charlie. "We can send another message to your mother's family as well, if you're fine with that. I haven't heard anything from the first inquiry, so a second request through Ethan may have different results."

"Fine with me," Charlie said. He traced his fingers along the Evanson tapestry. "They're the ones that locked him in his room, you know." He tapped the images of Petunia and Vernon Dursley. "Bars on the window and all that."

Theo barely spared a glance to the marked tapestry. He could clearly see that one Vernon Dursley was marked 'deceased' while Petunia and Dudley were greyed out. A rather dark sense of satisfaction curled up in the pit of his belly.

There was something in knowing that one of them couldn't cause any more harm to his Harry, that soothed his Alpha instincts. He'd heard nothing good about the troublesome muggles in anything Harry had sparingly shared. Their Harry, of course, deserved much better than that. Theo had no chance to comment, however, for Quinn appeared, a large dinner tray in hand.

You're all terrible at taking care of yourselves. Quinn thought, fiercely. He set the meal tray on the round table beside the bed. I suggest you all eat and sleep, in that order. We can discuss the situation tomorrow morning, when everyone is rested and clear-headed.

Ethan cast an appreciative glance at the savoury dishes arranged on the tray. "We appreciate it," he said, softly. "Thank you."

Quinn huffed. He cast a sizing glance at the bed and then began to fill the various plates and bowls he'd brought for them. Charlie. Ethan. Theo. He said, offhandedly touching each place-setting in turn.

"Where's yours? Won't you join us?" Theo asked, easing off of the bed. "We'd welcome the company."

"The more the merrier," Ethan said. He reached out to snag Theo's wrist, shuffling close enough to link their hands together.

Charlie patted Harry's blanket-covered foot, a flicker of warmth leaping from his contemplative self, to spread a thin layer of protection over the bed. He circled around to the small table, sliding into the chair where Quinn had set his meal. "Thank you. Looks good."

"If it tastes half as good as it smells, I'll die happy," Ethan said, golden eyes alight. He didn't sit on the chair like Theo and Charlie did, but rather, half curled up on the third seat, taking his plate in hand.

Charlie studied him for a moment, before he realized why. Quinn had positioned Ethan closer to Harry than the rest of them. Ethan had responded by half-facing away from the table, the plate, pulled close to the edge, his attention clearly split between the table and the bed. He'd be ready to move at a moment's notice, with very little effort.

From the way Quinn was serving himself and taking the seat furthest away from the bed, Charlie figured it was a ranking thing. In fact, now that he thought of it, Ethan was vaguely reminiscent of the Deveraine Pareyas. Close at hand, but ever watchful and poised to act.

It was a detail he hadn't expected to recognize on his own, but the realization prompted a spark of renewed warmth. He felt it burn inside of him, sending a few threads to each of his Bonded in return.

He could tell when it reached Theo, because his ears turned pink. Ethan studiously fixed his gaze on Harry's sleeping form, but the tiniest of smiles lurked at the corner of his mouth.

Quinn served himself and settled down. A gentle silence filled the room, the sounds of dishes and utensils clinking together. There was no need for conversation.

GEORGE & JUN EVANSON AND CO.

"George? George, sweetie, are you in here?" Peony stuck her head through the tiny room, frowning when she didn't see any red hair or red flames. "Jun, he's not in here."

"He has to be," Jun said, nudging her back. "Let me look."

"It's a small room and it's empty and-"

"Something doesn't feel right," Jun repeated, for the dozenth time.

"We're away from the threat," Peony said, quietly. She caught Jun by the shoulders and pulled her back into the narrow hall, crowding her up against the wall. It was a testament to how worried Jun was, that she allowed the gesture for what it was.

"I know that." Jun tried to push forward.

"You're still stressing," Peony said. She leaned forward, pressing up against Jun, angling herself so that her Alpha couldn't look anywhere else. "And with your stressing, that means that Briar is fretting, Rian is borderline numbing out and the rest of us will be all-"

"Rian's already out," Jasmine said, heavily. "And George is with Regulus. Jun, I think you'd better come. He's not in a good way. Something must be happening to his missing soulmate."

Jun and Peony untangled themselves from the wall, hurrying after Jasmine.

"How bad is he?" Jun wanted to know, even as her mentor-mark began to throb and burn fiercely. "He was fine when I saw him and-"

"Whatever it is, Rian spelled a soundshield over him," Jasmine said, grimly. "And believe me when I say that he didn't want to do it, but there are some sounds you don't forget."

Jun stopped dead in her tracks at the entrance to the front yard, where George lay spasming on the cool grass. Her Pareya hovered, each of them looking more worried than the last. Fretting anxiously beside him, was a very agitated Regulus.

For Regulus, his wings were flared out in full, protective display, while his eyes were a wild, golden hue. The massive feathered wingspan was enough to give her pause, at first, but the burning sensation on her mentor-mark propelled Junforward.

She could read the empathy feedback far too clearly to mistake it to be anything other than what it was—an instinctive reaction to a missing Bonded being in close contact with Death. She'd hoped he'd never experience something like this.

Her heart stuttered a beat. His soulmate was at Death's door or standing right on the threshold. There was no way they could know the difference, because the reaction would be the same. "George!"

Rian was the one to catch her, before she could breach the soundproof dome. "Don't," he warned. "You'll have a reaction and then a breakdown. We can't have that right now. Let Regulus handle it. Man seems to know what he's doing."

"But Rian-!"

"Let him work," Rian said, sternly. "I know you're reacting already, but don't think I won't put you flat out on the ground, if you start mirroring him—and I mean either of them. We need you right now and we need you sane."

"He's hurting!" Jun cried out, unable to resist the lure of fresh pain teasing at the edges of her empathy. She'd been prepared for a lot of things, but not this level of desperation bleeding away to sheer hopelessness.

George was giving up. There was a strange finality twisted up in his magic as he writhed and clawed into the ground, eyes pitch black.

"Don't-!" Rian warned, pushing back against her straining form. "Regulus is in there with him. Trust that he knows what he's doing."

"He's hurt!" Juniper choked out. "Death—he's at—he's with—Death!"

"Juniper," Briar said, hoarsely. He found her next, twining his arms around her waist and hugging her as tightly as he could. He felt the moment when she finally surrendered, trusting that they were still looking out for their newest additions, even when it didn't feel that way.

Even though it hurt, Rian let Briar take her. He would know how to ground and anchor her, just as she would allow him to help her. They had a special bond and right now, he could do more good for their Circle, reaching out to the rest of their Bonded.

"What happened?" Jasmine demanded, shuffling up to lend her own strength to the not-quite-a-group-hug for Jun. She snagged Briar, dragging him back, right along with Jun.

"Something's happened somewhere and very recently," Rian said, grimly. He was silently pleased that Jasmine had kept them all together. "I can't think what, because the realm hasn't-"

The ground shook and trembled. Streaks of magic crackled and snapped overhead, as if the dancing energy was lightning in the sky. Rian grabbed Jasmine closer to him.

She patted his hand, worried eyes fixed on the crackling flares above. "What is it?"

"Realm-shifting. Nevarah's—shifting. Someone must've been anchored to the realm. It's adjusting to the newcomer."

"Are you sure?"

"You only see those when that happens," he said, nodding to the shimmering light. "It must've been serious. You don't realm-anchor unless it's serious."

Inside the dome, Regulus eased down to sit beside a limp, gasping George. He brushed one feathered hand over George's pale, sweaty face. There wasn't a hint of shadow or flame within the protective bubble, but the blackness was slowly leaving George's eyes.

Jun glanced from George to the sky. "You don't think," she began.

"Don't," Briar growled. "You don't know that. Don't you dare read anything into it. There's a thousand other possibilities across the realms. It could be any other-"

"Too coincidental," Jun shot back.

"I'd rather it be any other thing," Rian said, darkly. "A soulmate bonded to a realm? That's asking for trouble. No one can keep their attention split between two-"

"Nevarah doesn't refuse those who have no home nor parents," Jun said, curling in on herself. "It'll guide and protect them until they find a place to call home. It will be the missing pieces that are needed." She let Briar's embrace infuse warmth into her half-chilled form. His shadows were soft now, just like he was in the moment. For now, they'd just cling to each other. Everything else could be sorted later.

KYLE, DAHLIA AND DYSHOKA. – DEVERAINE-IMALDIS HOME

"Dy?" Kyle stuck his head through the door of Dahlia's bedroom. "There you are." He cracked a yawn, pushing the door further open to shuffle on in. "What happened? You left in such a hurry..."

Dyshoka stifled a grin at his sleepy expression. Seeing how adorable he was in moments like this, that reminded her of how she'd fallen for him so hard. "Kind of," she said. "Don't just stand there, come." She held up the ends of the covers, nudging Dahlia over.

"Bad dream?" he asked. He eased into the bed, beside her.

She huffed when his cool arms twined around warmer form, one hand stretching out to brush against Dahlia as well. "You're freezing."

"And whose fault is that?" he asked, sleepily. "I was lonely and it was cold."

"You have Emily."

"I've always had Emily," Kyle agreed. "And now I have you." He kissed her bare shoulder, his green eyes alight in the dark. "You're also avoiding the question."

Dyshoka twisted in his arms, enough so she could snuggle closer. "Just went to see my Mum is all. She's going to make a huge fuss out of this, you know."

"The bonding?" Kyle tucked her head under his chin. "Which part of it?"

"The whole thing," Dyshoka said, miserably. "It's not that I don't want her to, I mean—it'll be fun, it'd also be the best way to meet the entire Kalzik Clan and everything, but-"

"But you don't care about the meet and greet," Kyle said, gently. "Or the social credits from something as official and important as a formal bonding ceremony. You just want to keep the peace."

"Something like that."

"What's wrong if she wants to celebrate?"

"I can't believe you have the nerve to ask, after you've seen us celebrate everything that sparkles for the past ten years-"

He pinched her side, smiling when she squirmed. "I mean, what's really wrong with it? I know you're just like your sisters with the whole perfect outfit and daydream for your formal ceremony picked out since you were what, three?"

"Oh, very funny," she grumbled.

"Shut up, both of you," Dahlia mumbled. She burrowed closer to Dyshoka, one arm stretching over her to touch Kyle. "You're being loud and I'm tired. Sleep time is now."

Kyle snorted. "What's wrong with a Bonding ceremony?" he probed. "I need a hint—either of you. And a good one, not a little-"

"I can't," Dahlia said, annoyed. "So we won't."

"...that is not cryptic at all," Kyle said, sarcastically. "Is this about Wikhn? Because he'll probably show up if you actually go through with a formal ceremony. He adores you. There's no way that he'll miss something like-"

"He won't," Dahlia said, her voice raspy. "He's not even on-realm and that has nothing to do with my personal preferences-"

"She won't remember a word of this," Dyshoka said, lightly. "Let her sleep, love."

"I can't. You're both being all mysterious and sneaky at this hour of the-"

"I'm tired now too," Dyshoka said. "How's Shay?"

"Everyone's fine." Kyle stretched out one hand, poking Dahlia's arm. "Dahlia—I'm serious. Would one of you please tell me what-"

Dyshoka sighed. "I don't know. I didn't get a chance to—get it out of her."

"There's nothing to get out of me!" Dahlia said, annoyed. She was no longer sleepy now, but awake and annoyed. "I said I can't do it, because I have prior obligations. Those obligations also extend to my Circle, especially considering the circumstances of bonding. I can't get out of it, which means you all can't get out of it. So the answer is no. It doesn't matter who asks, when they ask or why they ask. It's not happening!"

Kyle gave a low whistle. "That's a nice little rant," he said, approvingly. "I didn't think you were awake enough for one of those. Who are we obligated to?"

"Not you. Me," Dahlia growled. "And it's nothing for you to worry about-"

"Dah-lia," Dyshoka murmured. "You're doing that thing again, where you think you're absorbing all of the heavy and worrisome issues alone, because you think it's best for everyone else, without even consulting them. It just makes us worry more."

There was a short pause, then a huff.

"...am not," Dahlia protested, at last. "It's just—it is actually my problem this time. You can't help with this."

"Well, it can't be your parents. I doubt any of them would hold anything over you, especially now that you're bonded, so that leaves—ah, you didn't have a mentor, right? So no mentor debts to repay."

"That leaves Lady Paielda," Kyle said, catching on to where Dyshoka's ramblings were headed. "Wait—Dahlia, do you owe her?"

"She's my training ACE. Of course I owe her."

"...what did she claim?

"When do you have to pay?"

Dahlia sighed. "It's not that simple, alright? It was kind of a blanket statement thing, since Mum was out of the picture. She didn't want me to lose my Alpha potential and she didn't want me to be overwhelmed by it either. So she had me shipped off to be placed with a training academy."

"You never told me you went to a training academy!" Dyshoka twisted around to stare at her. "Why don't I know that you went to a training aca-"

"Because I didn't. I was kicked out for—well, never mind, what for. Lady Paielda was looking for some extra hands and we pulled in another favour to get me settled with her. I had a trial period of a year and then she took me on. Said I had potential. Then made sure I knew where I belonged until now. I owe her a lot."

"Really? She seemed kind of intense."

"She is. That's rare for an Air type, but it wasn't through Mum's connections exactly. It was the Deveraine name and obviously the dominant element is Air."

"True," Kyle said, slowly. "I expected you to come from Earth roots."

"Earth and Storm," Dahlia said. She tugged the covers more to her side of the bed. "Storm's hard to apprentice to and the Earth ACES I met, I didn't like. Lady Pai didn't give me a chance to decide if I liked her or not, it was more whether she'd put up with my attitude or fix it first."

"Did she christen you? Your title, I mean."

"Oh no. The Black Dahlia title is inherited. I got that from the armoury. I was trained to be a vessel for it after that, but we got along better than anyone expected. It's probably going to stay in our Circle from now on, as long as there's one Gheyo child in the mix and somehow, I doubt that'll be a problem."

KALZIK ESTATE – GUEST COTTAGE – HARRY

These were the best dreams he'd ever had, Harry thought. He knew it had to be a dream, there was no other way he'd be the sole focus of Fred and George Weasley, unless there was some strange circumstance at play.

This was nothing like when he'd first realized that Charlie was someone he wanted. With Charlie, it was easy. There'd been Shadow and sharing a bedroom. There was enough chemistry that had started up in close quarters and that had been that.

But the Twins...

Harry squirmed, restlessly. This had to be a dream. There was no other way he could be comfortably sandwiched by both twins, with matching claim marks on their arms.

Arms. Not necks.

That detail was another thing that convinced him of the actual dream-reality, because there was no way he'd have forgotten biting them, much less staking a claim of any sort.

A sharp pang of loneliness stabbed through him. He had good memories of the Twins. They'd come to his rescue time and time again. The most notable point being the escapade with a certain flying car.

They'd shown up with Ron and pulled the bars clean off of his bedroom window. They hadn't second-guessed their options or changed their minds, they'd simply shown up and helped. Just like Ron had.

Harry shivered. That was another headache he couldn't figure out. Ron was his friend—had been his friend—so what had gone wrong? The same for Hermione. Even if fellow Gryffindors' hadn't really been that bad, it was more so theSlytherins' and now—ugh. Another shiver ran through him.

The most pressing reason to re-evaluate all Slytherins' was the very real example he had of a certain Theodore Nott Jr. A kind, but shrewd pureblood that had somehow managed to stay just out of notice at Hogwarts for years.

A clever and handsome devil, to be sure, because now that he was really thinking about things, there was no reason why Theodore would have chosen him, was there?

Thinking yourself in circles, Harry?

Harry started. He knew that voice, even if he hadn't expected it here of all places. The images and figures, blurred and vanished. Dropping away from soft warmth to a deep, rich blue.

In the centre of the vast blueness, a shining ball of silver light approached, bobbing almost happily as it drew closer. When it was almost close enough to touch, the silver light began to twist and stretch until a filmy, blue-white figure took form.

Maurice.

Harry's heart stuttered a beat. This had to be real. It had to be! He was very much awake when he'd watched them Casper his mentor.

Shhh. Calm down. Breathe. Maurice soothed. It's alright. Dream reality is a little—fickle, at times. Don't think so hard about it.

"A-are you real?" Harry dared to ask.

Everything is real. Maurice said, sincerely. Some things are more real than others though. It just depends on how important they are to you.

"I saw George," Harry said, slowly. "And Fred. I saw them. I could touch them. They were lying right next to me. Curled up. One on each side. As if I was—as if they were-"

As if they were yours? Maury's gaze turned knowing. That's probably because they are. When your Intended are close at hand or in need of you, then they will seek out a connection however they can. This is what compels Soulbonded to find each other. They try to reach out with magic and then in person.

"Are you sure?" Harry had to ask.

Positive. You've already cried for them, haven't you? Maury lifted one ghostly hand and tapped Harry's chest, lightly, right over his heart. Your soul cried out for them. That's a summons that cannot be ignored, unless their soul already belongs to another, at which point, the connection would not have gone through.

"...can it be ignored? I mean, they can still choose, right? It's not like they're—stuck with me." Harry pressed a hand to his heart, hating the way it passed straight through Maury's. It hurt to realize that he knew what it felt like to be held by those warm hands and to know that he'd never feel it again.

A soulbond takes that into account. If there was not compatibility on multiple points, there would be no soul-connection. Rest-assured. They will yearn for you and desire you. In the same way that you will pine for them and defend them against all odds. It is not one-sided.

Harry gave a slow nod. "...thank you for staying. I-I know you probably-"

I wish I could have stayed a bit longer in the land of the living. Maury's hand brushed against Harry's cheek, trailing up to pat his hair. We would've had so much to talk about.

Tears threatened to spill over, but Harry couldn't quite give into it. He just felt tired. So tired. "You stayed now," he said, softly. "And I'm sure you didn't have to."

Of course I had to. I haven't had a mentored student in decades. You're adorable. My Circle would've loved you to pieces.

"Really?"

Really. We never did get to starting-a-family point, but we always thought we'd have more time for it, you know? Unfortunately, I was the only one properly qualified to have a mentored student and that took a few years to get properly straightened out too.

Harry fidgeted. "So what happens to you now? I mean, you're obviously—y'know."

Caspered. Maury said, dryly. There's nothing wrong with it. Just a piece of my soul that's currently staying behind for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time. I am still sane. I still retain most of my memories from my living years. The rest of me has passed onto Death's Court. It will wait, until I am no longer needed—and then I will join it.

Harry quivered. "How do you know when you're not needed?"

Oh Harry. You dear child. And Maury glided forward, attempting to hug Harry with his ghostly arms. I wish this body was more substantial. You must tell your Bonded to be more affectionate with you. Ask for you need—and what you want. You need their closeness and reassurance and I wish you had it now.

Harry looked away. That wasn't what he'd expected to hear. He didn't even know why he'd asked such a question in the first place. It wasn't as if he had a right to keep Maury there. Maury had been through so much already and yet, he'd chosen to stay back one more time—for his sake.

That was more than enough.

"They're fine. They—try. We have a lot happening right now."

That's no excuse. It'll be easier on everyone if you spend more time with each other. It takes strong bonds to forge a strong Circle. That's only possible with time, patience and a great deal of compassion. Skin-to-skin contact certainly doesn't hurt either. You have an Empath's heart and magic—I can feel that.

"You can?"

It's a little hard to miss. I just know what to look for. My magic is fairly similar and it relies heavily on emotion-fueled direction.

"That's it?"

It won't be easy, but it'll certainly be worth it. Maury eased down to sit on the ground of the strange floating blueness. Your powers will grow and stabilize as your Circle does. It's a bit reflective of each other during this phase of life. You learn to depend on each other and to give of yourself. It takes time. It's not something you rush. He chuckled. Arielle knows it took me and mine quite a few years to get off of each other's nerves before we could even stand to work together. There were some days it was almost too much to stomach.

"Really?" Harry sat beside him, a spark of curiosity surfacing. "What was it like? Were you Soulbonded too?"

Soulbonded to some, yes. Aware of those connections straightaway? No. In fact, you might say that we actively fought them for some time. Ryker's Bane—my Circle—was not a very, soft Circle. I don't know how else I could explain it other than, we were efficient and ruthless at all times, even with each other. It took quite some time before we learned to trust each other and our feelings.

"The Soulbond didn't help with that?"

Soulbonds help with a lot of things. Most of the time, it exaggerates feelings and inclinations that are already there, so it's easier to see and understand. Gradually, over time, the exaggeration fades and the original feeling and intention remains. It's meant to encourage mutual affection and an even playing field, so you're more inclined to work at it.

"I'm not sure I understand—you mean, it's not real?"

Oh, Harry. Of course it's real! There wouldn't be anything to exaggerate if it wasn't there already and that intensity won't actually fade, if that is what is genuinely felt for each other. Most times, that faded feeling is just a deep sense of knowing. A sort of intuition, if you will. Knowing that it's alright to take a short trip, because when you return, you'll still have a place. The Soulbond highlights the good things about your Bonded, so you learn to see them first, even if there are things that confuse, frustrate or annoy you. We're all individuals, after all. We will have differences, but they can be minimized or overcome.

"And that's what happened to you?"

Something like that. We came to care for each other in time and that fierce loyalty became a deep love. But it took a lot of time and a lot of work. I knew Ryu when he was younger and when our paths crossed later in life, I took a chance. He was open and receptive and his persistence gradually reached me. If he hadn't kept on trying, I might've easily shut myself away and faded out into madness.

"Really?"

Really. I was very lonely in my younger years, because there were many situations and circumstances that I had no control over. Some of them resulted in losing things and people who were very dear to me. At some points, I had next to nothing.

"Nothing?" Harry couldn't help but echo. That description was too close to home. "What happened?

Many things. Eventually, I managed to pull myself together and make enough of an effort to regain what my Clan had lost. It was around the first year I'd been able to finally breathe easy again, that Ryu and the others appeared.

"...I'm sorry."

It's alright. That's part of life. Things change. People change. Time changes. Something is always changing, so you learn to adapt. We had a wonderful time together and I will always treasure that. The moments where everything was incredible more than made up for the moments where it wasn't. Once I had a taste of that kind of harmony—once we all did—we did our best to strive for it. The effort was always more than worth it.

"...can you tell me about them?" Harry asked, cautiously. "I mean, you don't have to, if you-"

I would love to. Maury smiled, sadly. They were my light and life. Even now, like this—it hurts—and I don't know if it will ever stop.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered. "You didn't have to come back and-"

It is nothing for you to be sorry about, Maury said, firmly. And returning was my decision. You do not get to decide that you are only halfway-hurting and therefore, you can survive. Your hurts do not invalidate mine. We can both hurt and we can both heal.

Harry swallowed back another apology with a helpless sound in his throat. He didn't know what else to say. He was so out of his element and everything in his head was just a mess. A giant mess that desperately needed to be sorted or organized, so he could think clearheadedly for the future.

It was almost as if there was a light, a beacon somewhere in the distant future and that if he could just keep it together until he could see it, everything would be alright.

You put so much pressure on yourself. You do not have to. There is more on your shoulders than there should be.

"It's always been that way," Harry said, lightly. "Kind of used to it."

Then let's see if we can change that. You deserve to have the same freedom and future as those you admire and surround yourself with. I am not perfect, Harry, but I did learn from what I went through. That is how I qualified to be a mentor. The experience and the earnestness.

"What if you can't?"

You sound like my Bonded. Any time someone tells you they can't do something, it's a matter of how badly they want to do it. If you want something badly enough, you will move all the realms through time and space, to find it. You will push yourself to the edge of eternity, if that's what it takes—and then you'll do it. You will do the impossible thing and wonder what took you so long in the first place.

"I've wanted many things," Harry said, darkly. "Many things that never happened, no matter how much I wished or willed it-"

Wishing is only half of the formula and it's not a cure-all, save-all. You have to do the work too. You can't give up halfway and then wonder why it didn't work. It's not easy, but it will change you for the better.

"...I'm not giving up."

Good. I see too much potential in you to let you give up so soon. You remind me a little of my Bonded. I think they would've liked you.

"Really?"

Really. We never did have our own children. It wasn't meant to be, it seems. Maury smiled, fondly. They were just as thick-headed as I was at the time. We learned and we grew. Sometimes that meant we made stupid mistakes for stupid reasons. Mistakes that I hope to help you avoid.

Harry nodded, quickly.

I'll tell you all about them in time. But first, let's focus on a few important things. You are resting now. A healing trance of sorts. It seems to be timed.

"...you can tell?"

Yes. So let's make the most of it. Answer me this. What is it that you really want? And what are you willing to do to reach it?

What if I told you that you could choose a future without that?

"I-I don't want to leave it that way. I know it's—it's selfish and-"

It's alright to be selfish. There's no rule that says you have to be perfect and selfless. There's also no rule that says you have to do something or don't do something, in order for everything to work out in the end.

"He's—he's killed so many," Harry said, quivering with emotion and a strong burst of righteous anger. "So many innocent people and-"

And you want vengeance?

"No. Yes! I don't know. I just—they deserved better. Neville's parents, my parents, Cedric, Sirius, the others in the Order of the Phoenix and now it's even—the other students. Dumbledore's turning it into a game—"

You don't know that. Maury said, calmly. You don't know that he's turning it into anything specific or if he's just causing trouble and letting the chaos run wild. That's not exactly a crime, but it is an unwanted result.

Harry straightened. "That's not fair, Maury," he said, upset.

Oret.

"What?"

The title you're looking for, is Oret. It means male mentor. Oretta is female. Orec is neutral or for those who do not prefer either. It is a title of respect. Please use it.

"...Oret, then," Harry corrected. "That's still not fair. Why can't you believe me that he's evil? He's ruining people's lives and futures, because of-"

I didn't say that I didn't believe you, Harry, I said that it wasn't your problem. It isn't. He's made his bed and he will lie in it, but his errors are his own. You are not responsible for what he's done or what he's doing-

"But I saw him! I saw the spell—at the beginning of the school year and I didn't do anything!" His voice cracked, his hands curling into fists. "You don't understand, I saw what he did and I ignored it."

Which is still perfectly normal and does not make his atrocious actions your fault or your problem to be solved. If that's all you're seeing out of this, then we need to look at the situation from a different point of view.

"There's nothing to see! There's nothing that-"

Then how would you solve it?

Harry froze. That was the answer he didn't have—yet. "I don't know."

Maury remained silent. His expression was neutral, his tone was still light. You don't know?

"-but I can figure it out! I'll figure it out and-"

There's nothing wrong with figuring it out because you want to help and you're not tying your sense of self-worth to the outcome. There is something wrong if you're doing this because you feel obligated to out of a misplaced sense of duty.

"I don't have a misplaced sense of-"

What if someone else was the chosen one?

Harry felt his chest seize. That felt like a dangerous kind of hope. He'd wondered, a few times, why it couldn't be anyone else. Why it had to be him of all people?

Maury softened. His energy seemed to glow and light up the mental landscape. It's a possibility. If it were someone else, what would you do then?

The pressure came rushing back. Harry fought the urge to curl in on himself and actually succeeded. He sat upright, hands in his lap. "I'd want to help them," he said, at last. "I'd know what it feels like—the good and the bad. So I'd want to help them. I wouldn't want them to go through it alone—like I did."

A slow smile stole over Maury's face. That's a good answer, because it shows your true heart. Now, what if that Chosen One didn't want your help? Would you back off or keep trying?

Harry faltered. "...I-I don't know. It's too much for one person. That kind of-" he stopped. When he'd first entered Nevarah, the combination of Theo and Charlie's magic had left him feeling nearly invincible and exhausted at the same time.

It'd been pure power, tearing into the Fabrine, setting them aflame. It'd also drained him. Still, it'd been a few days and he could feel that power coursing through his veins and humming inside of his body.

A completely different sensation than he was used to. A deep, calming steadiness that hadn't quite been there before. A few hollow twinges were noticeable at some point, but nothing on the level of the crazy all-over-the-place emotions and reactions from his initial arrival.

Maury's lips twitched, as if the smile would deepen.

"If they didn't want my help," Harry said, slowly. "And if they were—if they had this kind of power, this kind of magic—they might be alright."

And? Maury prompted.

"And if they were alright, then I wouldn't have to—I mean, I'd only-"

You would only...?

"I'd only have to protect what's important to me." Harry stared at Maury in wonderment. This was an entirely new train of thought that hadn't ever occurred to him before. Of course he wanted his friends to be alright. He didn't want to see them hurt or killed.

But at the same time, it was different to stand up to protect his friends. Very different to stand for those that he held dear rather than the entire Wizarding World.

His shoulders gradually relaxed as he continued to sift through his thoughts and measure them up against this new revelation. Things were different now. Not only did he never have to go back to the Dursleys' but he also had—A Circle!

Bonded lifemates—Soulmates—that had chosen to be with him. Strong men that would support and stand by him—especially if he asked them to. New friends that felt as if they would also do the same.

All of it so recent, it was merely a matter of days. Harry pressed a hand to his thrumming heart. He could feel it. Even though they were in mindscape, he could feel it. His life pulse, strongly beating, unwavering.

Waves of emotion swirled around him. There was one thing that came to mind at once. If it were up to him, and if it really wasn't his responsibility to charge after a madman, then there was something he wanted to do.

"Hogwarts," he said, faintly. "I'd want to go to Hogwarts and—protect it from anyone that would try to destroy it. I'd want to make it the safe haven that it was for me, at first. A place where everyone can go to, no matter what they are or why they need to be there."

And what about your Bonded? Would they be pleased with such a shift?

Harry fiddled with his shirt sleeve. "Theo probably wouldn't mind," he said, at last. "I don't think he had any specific plans for here. I-I haven't asked. I'd need to. Charlie's a dragon tamer though. He has a job. I think-"

Maury waited, patiently.

After another pause, Harry gave a faint shrug. "I need to talk to them," he said, simply. "I don't know what we're really doing here, I mean—no school, no definite plans. It's just—I have all these seals that I can't get off and I'm supposed to hunt and-"

How many seals? Maury wanted to know, a shadow crossing his face. I took three of them off of you, before I Caspered and that should've-

"...it sounded like you put them on for a good reason—but why?"

Because a seal could protect you when I couldn't. Seals are meant to be good things, but too much of a good thing-

"Can be a bad thing," Harry finished. "Right."

How many do you have left?

"Eight, I think? I have the Peverells working on one—My great-great uncle? Lewis. He's—they're getting the Clan head to sign off on mine. There's also an Evanson Seal, that's from Mum's side and we've contacted them, but haven't heard any news recently. Theo and Quinn have handled all of that."

Those sound like hereditary seals. They usually aren't bad, unless the elements are conflicting and you can actually dissolve them on your own, by bonding to someone with the seal's element. A fully bonded Submissive can't have Seals from before, unless there's a Triad Oath over it. Namely, your Alpha, Beta and ACE would have to confirm that you're fine with it. Of course, at that point, unless you're simply burning through more magic than your body can hold, it's not likely that you'd need a seal after you're bonded.

"Gheyos have them," Harry said, quietly. "They have—Death Seals."

That is their choice and their preference. Death Seals are different from regular ones, Harry and they're always created by the one who bears it or by Death's hand alone.

Harry shuddered. "I-I didn't," he said, faintly. "I wouldn't have-" Death's looming figure was too overwhelming in remembrance.

It's alright, if you did, and it's alright if you didn't. Maury said, simply. It's also not your fault if Death decided to gift it to you. Death sometimes takes a liking to certain souls among the living. It will grant them boons that no living mortal could ever hope to gain on their own. Death's favour is not something you take lightly and it is also something you do not refuse.

Harry's jaw clenched. "So I'm stuck with it again? Things happening to me—and no control over how or why-"

Death comes for everyone, Harry. The same as how Life breathes itself into everyone. If there is only one exception to the rule, don't you think that's better?

Harry scowled.

...I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry the choice was taken from you. We don't always get to choose the misery we know we could survive. Being Death's favourite or preferred plaything is no small task.

"...could it have come from a curse scar?" Harry reached up to trace that familiar lightning bolt on his forehead. "Something like this?"

Maury leaned in, eyes burning bright with energy. Very much like that. Harry—did you die? I mean, at some point and came back?

Harry made a strangled sound in his throat. "...I don't know? This was from—when I was a baby. A killing curse rebounded." He started, faintly, when Maury's ghostly form attempted to hug him. The chill and the sparking energy made his heart ache fiercely.

Oh Harry...

"He tried to kill me first," Harry explained. "And my parents—my Mum, she was in the way. I think I remember it, sometimes. Her face. Her voice. Then there's this horrible darkness and a green light. I never remember anything else. Not my Dad. Not my grandparents. Not anyone else. Just—her, and the light—and that awful darkness."

Death's realm. Maury said, knowingly. I'm surprised Death returned you. That is a very rare occurrence, unless you've accumulated enough souls or forged some sort of blood-fused bargain in exchange for a little more time.

"Why would anyone want this?" Harry let his hand filter through Maury's semi-transparent form. The chill was almost welcome now. "Why would they choose-?" He stopped, staring at Maury's compassionate expression. A faint smile surfaced. "I guess they'd choose what they wanted."

Maury nodded. We all have our reasons. Some of them may seem better or worse than others, but the choice or even, the choice to make the best of a situation that we have no control over—it is still ours. It might not be what you want, but that doesn't mean you can't make it into something that is better for you.

"Is there any way to get it off?"

You would have to ask, Death. I would say that Death was not particularly happy to see you, so your chances of a successful negotiation is rather slim.

Harry winced. "And if I don't do anything about it?"

Nothing happens. Well, no, that's not exactly correct—sometimes, there's negative energy spillover.

Harry frowned. "Simple explanation?"

It means that you might have unusually bad luck—or some really weird coincidences.

A sigh escaped. "Too late. Already happens."

Maury tried to pat his shoulder. You've really gone through the gauntlet, haven't you? And still, you have such a soft aura. That's a very good thing, especially when you're hunting.

"Hunting is confusing," Harry blurted out. "I don't know if I'm doing it right or if there's something else that I'm supposed to say or do! It's all a mess. I thought I—Oret!"

Maury was smiling again. You're doing fine. If you have that much energy to worry about it, trust me, you're doing fine.

"That doesn't help!"

Tremors of laughter shook Maury's shoulders. Hunting is not—difficult. It's actually quite fun. I think you'd like it a lot. You could stand to be spoiled and a little smothered.

"I don't-!" Harry sputtered.

You do. Enough Pareya will help with the smothering bit and the spoiling, well, when there's enough of them, they eventually remember that one of the best ways to maintain a happy Circle is a happy Submissive. So you'll end up showered in attention, gifts and plenty of sex.

Harry wished he could melt straight through the floor. "...d-don't say that with-"

That's a wonderful reaction. Maury said, smirking. I didn't think you were that shy. Don't worry. It's a perfectly normal and healthy part of maintaining your Circle. You'll be in high demand, after all.

A squeak escaped as Harry clapped a hand over his mouth.

Alright, where should we start? Have you heard about favours and Elemental compatibility?

DUMBLEDORE - A MINOR SETBACK

"What do you mean it's gone?" Dumbledore stared at the pale Torvak in front of him. The first inklings of anger stretched and spilled into his veins. He hadn't given any orders to move against the Weasleys' much less to destroy a perfectly functioning unplottable location with decent wards over it.

"It's gone—sir," the Torvak said, eyes averted. "There was a slight—miscommunication."

"A miscommunication does not result in lives lost, Mister Albrecht." Dumbledore's smile did not touch his normally sparkling eyes. Instead, there was a deep coldness that seemed to radiate out from him.

As if he were more in touch with his icy side of his Torvak abilities than his fire side. The headmaster's office began to quiver and rattle, as magical energy rushed through it, shattering and exploding some of the trinkets displayed in the bookshelves.

For a moment—one awful wretched moment—everything hung in mid-air, as if in slow-motion before another wave of magic rushed past, restoring everything to its former point.

Dumbledore folded his hands atop the desk, his expression still as serene and unchanging as ever. "It would seem that is a—minor setback. Which council members approved this countermeasure?"

"I-I don't know—sir."

"Are you sure?"

"...there wasn't a single member that didn't want to see something come back to them," the Torvak said, uncomfortably. "I-it's Cedrella's domain. She was—difficult."

"Because she wasn't one of us," Dumbledore said, sharply. "Because she is one of them. I told you—I warned all of you, all those years ago and yet-"

"B-but there's no proof!" the Torvak stammered. "None! We c-couldn't a-accuse her without p-proof!"

"Well, now she's no longer with us. Proof shouldn't be a problem." Dumbledore sighed, as if put upon. "The children—all of them, find them. They must be somewhere close by."

The Torvak shifted again in place. "W-what should we do when we find them?"

"Bring them to me, of course," Dumbledore said. "They will need guidance and safe haven. Hogwarts will always be a safe haven for those who need it. No matter who they are or how they come to its halls, we must welcome them."

The Torvak bobbed his head, quickly, then made another stiff bow. "I-I must be on my way. The portal-"

"Of course, of course," Dumbledore said, genially. "Oh and Mister Albrecht?"

"Sir?"

"The next time something like this happens on your watch—it will be an unfortunate situation for you."

The Torvak gulped. "Yes sir," he said, faintly. "Excuse me, sir." He dashed out from the headmaster's office and nearly crashed into the elegant witch that stood just outside of the door in shock. "E-excuse me, pardon me," he stammered.

Dumbledore frowned when his office door remained open and no sooner had his informant left, than another annoyance replaced him.

None other than Minerva McGonagall. She was dressed in one of her sturdier dueling robes and there was a sharpened air around her that immediately drew his attention.

Something was off.

No, something had been revealed.

Dumbledore held his smile in place. "Lemon drop, Minerva?" he asked, holding one out to her.

There was a moment—a split-second—where he saw her gaze narrow and sharpen, as if sizing him up and not liking what she found there.

But instead, she pursed her lips and fixed him with a very familiar glare. "I've told you a thousand times, Albus. I detest those things. I don't know how you can eat so many of them without rotting your teeth."

"...magic, my dear," Dumbledore said, lightly. "What brings you here today? I did not-"

"You didn't send for me, but I felt that I should come," Minerva said, matter-of-factly. "It's about the children."

"Yes, yes, of course. Such a tragic-"

"They've been thrown out of their homes, Albus. Over something that they have no control over! It's preposterous!" Minerva frowned. "The worst part is that there's no trace whatsoever of a kind of-"

"What do you mean, no trace?" Dumbledore's smile seemed frozen now. There was a dangerous note in his voice as he rose from his desk, not quite towering over it, but somehow taking up space in the entire room.

As if there was no air left to breathe.

Minerva squared her shoulders, chin lifted. "You cannot stand by Albus! And watch this happen? To the innocent? To the children?"

But her words barely seemed to register. There was something alarming in the swiftly darkening glare that settled over Dumbledore's weathered face. "I'm sure you can handle the finer details, Minerva," he said, lightly. "There are—as you've said—important things to take care of. I-I must see to them at once."

"But, Albus—the school—Hogwarts!" Minerva whirled around, her robes swirling as she followed him to the office door. "Albus!"

"Handle it!" He said, tightly. "And I will handle my end."

Minerva had no time to ask any other questions. Instead, she only ducked to the side when Fawkes swooped low past her shoulder to land on Dumbledore's arm. She shut her mouth, a disapproving frown in place, as a flash off Phoenix fire left her eyes burning and the office entry way, empty.

A/N: Hey guys! I swear, every time I tried to work on this chapter this week, something else came up. *bangs head on keyboard* I kid you not. I don't have a long note this time around. I just felt that this was such a weird, choppy chapter and the longer I held onto it, the more I kind of muddled it up. Much thanks to Brissy for getting this sorted into some kind of coherence. I hope the style was not too different for you guys. I had the most fun with the HarryxMaury bits and our favorite Quinn bossing around everyone else.

My original novel about Soula Deveraine's story was also released last year and you can find it as "Sands of Time" by Chera Carmichael. Book 2, "Treasured Sands" is current in the editing phase. Thanks a BUNCH to everyone who's read, reviewed and shared about it-you're amazing!

Thank you for your continued support! I love you guys! ~Scion