Chapter Two
All the Moomin's and Hobgoblin sat in the foyer of the Moomin home. Moominmama brought a tray of hot tea she sat in front of everyone. Hobgoblin and the others gave her a sincere 'thank you' as they sipped their steamy drinks.
However, the awkwardness in the air hung over all of them. Harry noticed it the most, staring into his mug silently. Personally knowing that whatever the awkwardness pertained to him.
"Now then, I'm sure you have questions." Hobgoblin finally announced. Moominpappa shuffled in his seat awkwardly, Moominmama seemed wary and Moomin seemed concerned.
After a moment of silence, Harry spoke up first. "Are you...Are we the same?" He hesitated before continuing, "It's just...You seem...Familiar?"
Hobgoblin gave a warm chuckle. "Yes, in a sense. We're both magic wielders but I feel that we're not exactly the same. For instance, you're from a world very far from here. Surprisingly, it's not where your kind resides...Perhaps my familiarity is because we met before when you were very young."
Before Harry could ask anything more, Moominpappa bristled, "Now, wait a moment, Sir! Harry isn't a Magician!" Moominmamma scolded him lightly, "Papa, we don't know that. Don't be rude, dear..."
"I'm not being rude! I'm stating the fact that Harry is just a normal little boy!"
Hobgoblin eyed them all curiously for a moment, his face fell slightly as realization dawned on him.
"Ah… That's right, I did not tell thee that night." He sighed to himself as he rested a gloved hand on his temple in thought."Well, this awkward situation is entirely my fault. Deepest apologies, this old brain can be a bit stagnant at times."
"Tell us what? What night?" Moomin asked, looking between everyone. Harry looked to him in concern, both having similar reactions to these new events.
Hobgoblin looked expectantly at Moominmamma who quietly sipped her tea. She set down her cup before calmly speaking, "Harry...Mr. Hobgoblin delivered you to us. It was one of the most joyous nights of our lives. The moment I held you, I knew you were my baby. It didn't matter if you were a bit different, you belonged here the moment you arrived." She softly spoke, giving Harry a warm smile. Her dark blue eyes twinkled in the candlelight.
Harry felt his heart sink a bit. Deep down, he knew he obviously wasn't like his family. He didn't look like them, didn't have anything similar to them. He was always going to ask how he came to be, but never seemed to find an appropriate time…
Hobgoblin cleared his throat, "If you will tolerate my meddling, I knew I made the right choice by giving you to the Moomin's...Why just look how much they care about you!"
Harry looked to his family, all of them giving him encouraging smiles. Harry swallowed as he fiddled with his cup. "Was it a secret?" Harry asked, looking sadly into the depths of the cup.
Moominpappa wavered, "Uh...Well…Not necessarily." Moominmama finished for her husband. "No, it was not. If you would have asked, we would have told you."
Hobgoblin continued where he left off, "Now that that is settled, I have my own information to share." He took a sip of tea before going on, "Harry is a Magic wielder...I believe his people call them 'Wizards' rather than magicians. He has magical abilities, I knew this when I found him as a baby."
All the Moomin's seemed taken aback for a moment before looking at Harry curiously. Harry simply gripped his cup, eyes wide and hanging on to Hobgoblin's every admission.
"He would have come from an awful home had I not intervened. His Aunt and Uncle would have treated him atrociously. Locking him away under a staircase, denying meals as punishment and being around a horrible boy that took joy from torturing him."
Moominmama gasped and looked at Harry, almost getting up from her chair to hug him. The hurt in her eyes was evident.
"Who could ever be so cruel to a child? Especially someone so compassionate as my son?" She lamented.
"Indeed." Hobgoblin agreed before continuing, "Harry was destined for a life of too much responsibility and anguish for a mere child to go through. Nay, I know not of how grown adults could possibly expect so much. Especially when they themselves created the problem from their negligence." Hobgoblin scoffed as he ranted.
"What do you mean by 'responsibility' and 'problem'?" Moominpappa asked. Hobgoblin shook his head, "It does not matter anymore. That life is gone for Harry and has been replaced by this one."
"However…" He drew as he turned to Harry. "You are still a Magician and or Wizard. Magic courses through you and you need proper training. I've come to teach thee."
"No, he does not! You're not taking him away from us!" Moominpappa exclaimed in outrage, fur standing in anger.
Hobgoblin's deep eyes widened at the Moomin's display before he let out a deep laugh. Moominpappa glared, "What is so funny?!" Hobgoblin tried to stifle his laughter enough to just barely answer.
"Take? I am not taking him anywhere!... Heh, I knew I made the right choice. Thou would protect him to the ends of the Earth!" Hobgoblin's chuckling died down as he addressed the room again. Moominpappa sheepishly shrunk in his seat at his outburst.
"I shall train him here in Moomin Valley. Perhaps once a week visits? After all, I still have my own goals to attend to. Those King's Rubies won't find themselves."
Moomin looked at his brother eagerly, "Wow! You can do magic, Harry!"
Moominmamma eyed Hobgoblin thoughtfully. "And if Harry doesn't train? After all, he's safe here in Moomin Valley."
"Then I'm afraid he could potentially be dangerous to himself as well as others. The creature in the woods saw that first hand." Hobgoblin gave a knowing smirk as both Harry and Moomin stiffened.
"How did-?" Moomin went to ask but Hobgoblin interrupted him with the answer. "I know all. I know when a burst of magic happens in Moomin Valley, though, I fear my panther can't always get me to the source as fast as I might hope."
"What is he talking about?... Harry?… Moomin?" Moominpappa drawled out at the two boys who seemed to shrink in their seats, blushes on their faces.
"I-It's not Harry's fault! Stinky hurt a fairy and Harry just gave him what he deserved!"
"It wasn't even like that! I didn't mean to, it just happened!" Harry corrected.
"What happened?" Moominmama calmly spoke. Both boys averted their eyes as Harry admitted. "...Stinky flew threw the air and landing in a tree...I think I did it." He mumbled.
"See? Thou can not comprehend thy power. It is there no matter what." Hobgoblin affirmed as he finished his tea, setting the cup down.
"So...I don't have a choice?" Harry tentatively asked, to which Hobgoblin shook his head.
"You do...But I highly recommend you consider my offer."
Harry sat there in thought before asking a very obvious question on his mind. One more important than magic or potential.
"What happened to my parents? You said my aunt and uncle would have raised me."
Harry felt guilty asking with his real parents sitting right there...But he had to know.
"Ah, a good question… One that I can't answer fully."
"Why not?" Harry asked with a tilt of his head.
"It's not a factor in your life anymore. Every path we take could lead to another path and that leads to fate. Some things are better left unsaid. Least the path I tried to avoid you having, leads back to the path you're on now. Rest assured, your human parents are gone. I'm very sorry to inform you of that information." Hobgoblin offered.
Harry was surprised by the answer but accepted it. After all, he was right. His Mama and Papa and brother were all right here. However, he couldn't help but linger on the word Hobgoblin used.
'Human…'
Hobgoblin stood up, bowing politely to everyone in the home. He slightly ducked his head as he exited the home to avoid his tophat hitting the ceiling.
"I wish you Moomin's a good night. Again, I apologize for the late intrusion but I feel this can't wait. I shall arrive again to teach thee all I can. Till then, farewell Harry Moomin." He offered Harry his big gloved hand. Harry shock it with a touch of admiration at the new acquaintance, and now, his new teacher.
Hobgoblin left the Moomin home, leaving much to be discussed among the family.
Hobgoblin mounted on his huge panther outside, letting her take off into the night sky.
"I couldn't tell him the truth. I fear for his safety and his ambition if he knew who killed his biological parents and why." He vocally talked to the Panther, she obviously said nothing. She was merely a soundboard for his thoughts. They raced across the sky as a trail of magic trailed behind them.
It was somber in the Moomin home. Harry sat anxiously in his seat, waiting for whatever reaction was to come. To his shock, he felt warm fluffy arms all around him.
"You're magic! That's so neat! Wait till you can control it! Maybe you'll be able to fly!" Moomin jabbered excitedly as he looked starry-eyed at his brother.
"I say, this will be a wonderful addition to my stories! Not only did we get a miracle that night, but a magical one!" Moominpappa proudly beamed with his pipe in hand.
"You're not mad? Or scared?...Or disappointed?" Harry muttered. The Moomin's looked shocked.
"Of course not! Magic was unexpected but that shouldn't be an issue here in Moomin Valley!" Moominpappa exclaimed as he ruffled Harry's hair. Moominmama chimed in as she placed a kiss on Harry's head, "We would never think any of those things about you, dear. We always knew you were special."
Harry's lips twisted in a smile as he blinked away tears from his eyes. "I love you guys."
He felt Moomin hug him tighter while his parents patted his shoulders, all agreeing that they loved him just as much.
That night, Harry went to bed with a bunch of questions in his little head. Too many to even comprehend! He went from an odd Moomin that had a thought he may have been adopted, to a magical human that came from another world and whose real parents were dead.
His hand lightly touched the mark on his forehead, wondering if his strange birthmark was a coincidence or not. Maybe all humans had them?
A few days went by and Harry was anxious around his friends, swearing Moomin to secrecy about his origin or magic.
Sniff was already leery of him, Snorkmaiden seemed quieter than usual and Little My's pestering was boundless. Snufkin was the only one that seemed indifferent towards Harry and the incident with Stinky.
Harry just hoped he could remain undercover about his secret… At least, he hoped. Sadly, it seemed that wasn't to be the case.
"Oh no…" Snufkin muttered as an odor filled the air along with a ruckus. Stinky stomped out to the patch of woods the kids were playing in. Today, only Snufkin, Harry, Moomin and Little My were there.
"I told you we shouldn't have come back!" Moomin harshly whispered to his friends. Little My cracked her knuckles with a smirk, "I'm glad we came! Let him try something. I dare him." She stood as her half brother Snufkin pulled her back.
"Woah there...Let's see how this goes." He drawled out as the ugly creature came towards them.
"What are you brats doing in my woods?! Especially YOU!" He pointed an accusing finger at Harry.
"You don't own the forest, you-" Little My rolled up her sleeves to come towards him as Snufkin put a foot out in front to stop her, cutting her off.
"You're right, we don't own this forest and probably shouldn't have come here. We'll just have to leave...All well." Snufkin shrugged with a dramatic sigh.
"WHAT?!" Little My barked as Snufkin started to leave. She gawked at him in outrage as the nasty monster laughed victoriously. "HAHA! That's right! Runaway you dumb children!"
Harry bit his tongue, remembering what happened last time. He refused to look at Stinky, too afraid his magic would lose control once again.
"No, he's right…" Harry uncharacteristically admitted defeat as he followed Snufkin. Moomin and Little My looked at one another in confusion.
"Aw, what's wrong, you little weirdo? Scared your friends won't like you no more if you do whatever weird magic mambo jumbo you did last time?!" Stinky taunted making Harry halt in his tracks.
"Hey, leave my brother alone!" Moomin exclaimed angrily to Stinky.
"Quiet! I didn't ask you! Just because your family is fine with taking in anything that crawls at their doorstep, doesn't mean the rest of us are!"
Harry clenched his fist. Snufkin took notice and stared wide-eyed at Harry. "Oh boy." He muttered under his breath.
"Stinky, I suggest you shut up or I shut you up!" Little My growled.
"For stating the truth?! I swear, all of you Moomin's and Moomin lovers are a joke! Acting like they are saviors or something, when really they just take in things weird like them!" Stinky bellowed as Harry gritted his teeth with a growl. He fully turned around towards Stinky, eyes narrowing and nostrils flaring in rage.
Stinky suddenly looked scared as he backed away. "Don't you try anything! I'm warning you! You don't want to let your friends see! We can make a deal or something!"
Stinky rambled and Harry just glared. Before long, something started shaking the tree above them. A huge bee nest crashed to the ground, right in front of Stinky. He screamed as bees swarmed, meanwhile, Snufkin grabbed Harry's arm.
"Go! Go! Go!" He yelled to the rest of the group as he dragged Harry behind him. They all ran yelling out of the forest as bees chased them. However, Stinky's yells were the loudest as they viciously attacked him.
"Sorry bees! I didn't mean to do that! We'll plant extra flowers in the garden if you leave us alone!" Harry yelled as his anger cleared, realizing the situation he had led his friends into.
"I don't think they'll listen, Harry!" Moomin yelled as one came dangerously close to his rear. He ran faster with a yelp.
"I promise! We're not after your honey or Queen! We'll give you a bunch of new hives to try!" Harry desperately reasoned.
Suddenly, the swarming stopped. The group halted in their tracks. They turned around in confusion, seeing the bees hovering a few yards away.
"I promise, we'll build bee boxes for you!" Harry continued. The bees hovered a moment longer before disappearing. Swarming back into the woods at the child's request.
They all gaped before Little My let out a laugh.
"I can't believe that worked! They actually believed you!" She laughed out. Harry smiled sheepishly, "I think we actually have to hold up on that end. Moominpappa can help us."
"You can talk to bugs?! Can you talk to animals too?" Moomin encouraged as he laughed.
Snufkin grinned, "I WAS going to throw a stinky root in his house. One so bad, even he'd be grossed out...But that was so much more exciting!"
Harry looked at them strangely. "You're not weirded out?"
"No, but I sure have questions…" Snufkin muttered at his childhood friend. Harry winced as Little My ran up and punched him in the shin. "Okay, the jig is up! How can you do that?!"
Harry nervously rubbed his arm. Moomin stepped in to save Harry from Little My's pestering. "It's a secret! And if Harry doesn't want to tell you then he doesn't have to!"
Harry smiled at Moomin but shook his head, "No, I guess they're going to find out eventually…" He took a deep breath before answering.
"Um...I was adopted-"
Harry didn't get to finish before Little My rudely let out a snort of laughter, "Well, that's obvious. You're way too scrawny to be a Moomintroll."
Harry cleared his throat as he continued. "Anyways, yes. I'm adopted. The Hobgoblin gave me to Moominmama and Moominpappa from another place."
"What kind of place? I travel often, maybe I'd know it?" Snufkin offered as the group started to walk back home.
"I don't know where. Just that humans live there...Which I guess is what I am."
"Do all humans do magic like that?" Little My chimed in, following beside them.
"Um...I don't know actually?"
Little My huffed, "Well sounds like you don't know anything!"
"I don't...All I know is that I'm human, I was given to Mama and Papa and that I can do magic. Even that, I'm not entirely sure how…"
Harry trailed off as a figure appeared on the horizon. Tall formally dressed and standing beside a large panther.
"Who is that old man?" Little My grumbled as everyone froze. Harry kept walking, followed by Moomin. "That's. He said he'd teach Harry magic."
Snufkin let out a humm, "Oooh, that Hobgoblin! I've heard a lot of interesting tales about him."
Little My turned to Snufkin as Moomin followed Harry, pestering him to tell her and him to argue that now wasn't the time. They stayed behind, giving the brothers space as they approached the Magician.
Harry walked towards Hobgoblin, who addressed him in a mix of scolding and amusement.
"Did I not tell thee that dangerous thing will happen? I was just visiting Moomin Valley too." He said with his arms folded. Harry swallowed as he built the courage to step closer.
"Yes Sir, you did."
"I see you can talk to other living things besides those that can speak. Interesting…" He mused.
"I knew it! You really can talk to animals!" Moomin exclaimed with a grin. Harry nodded, eyes on Hobgoblin.
"Are you angry?"
Hobgoblin chuckled, "Absolutely not. It was my fault for being late, those blasted Rubies take up all my time!" He snapped his fingers in annoyance.
He continued, "So...Are you willing to let me train you?"
Harry thought for a moment, still unsure. He partially wished things were back to normal when he had no magical abilities. Yet another part of him was eager at the idea of learning magic.
"I say you go for it! If you don't like it, you can just tell him no!" Moomin whispered in Harry's ear.
Harry thought a moment longer before nodding firmly. "I'll do it."
Hobgoblin smiled warmly at Harry, offering him his hand. Harry shook it as firmly as he could, secretly wanting to impress the Magician.
"Wonderful! It's been a fairly long time since I've taught anyone. If you promise to be patient with this old man, I promise to be patient with you."
Harry smiled back, feeling at ease at Hobgoblin's honest reaction. "I will. I promise!"
They released hands and Hobgoblin tipped his hat. "I'm afraid it's getting late...You children need to get back to your home in time for supper."
Harry deflated in disappointment. "But-But my training!" He muttered. Hobgoblin gave the boy a sympathetic look as he knelt down to Harry's level.
"I know, I apologize. In all honesty, I wanted to start tonight as well...But, I doubt Moominmama will appreciate me keeping you out past dark. How about tomorrow?"
Harry looked at him hopefully, "Really?"
"Of course! I can stave off finding my rubies at least once a week to teach thee. It's the least I can do."
"Yes, thank you!" Harry beamed as Hobgoblin stood to his full height and went back to his panther. He hopped on before calling to Harry, "I'm not a morning person, so thou shall see me from noon onward!"
Harry nodded with a grin as Moomin stood beside him, just as excited for his brother.
Hobgoblin waved to Snufkin and Little My, they awkwardly waved back before watching his panther leap into the air. They were awestruck as they saw her lift higher and higher before disappearing into the sky.
Little My spoke up, "I expect you to be able to do that by next month!"