Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

31. Call of the Cailleach

Call of the Cailleach

Rambling and Dribbles: Another dribble that I had to get out of my head.

-oOo-

Post OoP.

Harry is met by a girl when he is forced to be dragged on a vacation by his relatives. She is not your normal type of girl, but Harry isn't your typical type of guy.

A cailleach is a divine hag and ancestor, associated with the creation of the landscape and with the weather, especially storms and winter.

Merrow (from Irish murúch, Middle Irish murdúchann or murdúchu) is a mermaid or merman in Irish folklore.

-oOo-

Update: Edit some of CH01, added CH03

Update 16Apr22: Did a little more editing. Added Chapter 4

-oOo-

Chapter 1

July 29, 1996

Newquay, Cornwall

Harry kicked the sidewalk. Dudley had kicked him out of the room. Harry should be happy about that, having been stuck in the hotel for the last four days.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had decided to go on holidays to Fistral Beach. Dudley had said he was interested in surfing, and with him having to lose more weight, Aunt Petunia thought it would be a good way for Dudley to start working out more. As if the boxing he had started at Smeltings this year wasn't enough... Harry's arm was still sore when he hadn't been able to dodge the brute when he was being tossed out of the room. Harry hoped his cousin caught chlamydia or something. The girl he had with him looked a little skanky, and smelled of alcohol.

Following the sound of the ocean, Harry wandered down the road, away from the hotel and towards the dark headland. It was getting close to midnight, with the moon giving him plenty of light as he got away from the hotel and town. The wind swept grass was still tonight. No one else seemed to be around.

Breathing in the salty air, Harry tried to relax.

He had been forced to come here because Mrs. Figg couldn't take him.

That was one thing he was pleased with. He really didn't want to deal with the lady and all her cats. Not when he was waking many nights with night terrors.

As he walked towards the edge of the point, the moon shone off the long, rolling waves. They crashed into the rocks in a rythmic pattern he found comforting and hypnotic. The only other time he had been to the ocean was that time his relatives had tried to run from his letters to go to Hogwarts, and it hadn't been nice like this.

A slight breeze came off the ocean in puffs and he wrapped his lined flannel shirt around him. Walking to the edge of the grass and sand, he sat in a knoll that hid him from any prying eyes.

If he was out of his room, Harry decided he would take advantage of it and not go back until he had too. Even on holiday, he would need to be back before Aunt Petunia or Uncle Vernon woke, which usually meant his Aunt was up about seven in the morning, and his uncle closer to ten. Dudley would sleep most of the day if he could.

He watched the moon light play off the waves as he found his thoughts drifting towards everything. He had been so upset, so distraught, so empty for weeks now.

Sirius had died trying to save him.

None of his friends had written to him.

He hadn't seen anyone that wasn't his relatives in over a month.

Harry thought it had been bad last summer when this happened. This summer was worse.

Harry understood that it was because of Voldemort and they way the Death Eaters could track Hedwig or other owls. No wizard would have a telephone or use Muggle post, but Dumbledore hadn't thought of that when the ban had come into effect. The coward hadn't even told him. After dropping him off at his relatives the night Sirius died, it was Moody and Tonks that had shown a week later telling him about it and that he had to stay with his relatives. Thus the uneasy truce that led to Harry being here.

What had made it all worse was not knowing if his friends were alright or not. Tonks had told him only Hermione was still recovering in the hospital and had given him a note. The only one he had received in the last month. She had told him her parents and her were going to Australia the last week of July for three weeks. Harry was determined to call her once she was back

Harry knew that he wasn't being abandoned, it was all on Dumbledore's orders, again, but he couldn't help but feel like he had.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost missed the shimmery blue something in his peripheral vision. Turning his head so he could see what it was through his glasses, he caught sight of a girl. She was in a shimmering blue dress, almost like it was made of small sequence or fish scales. The girl was petite. What caught his breath was how striking she was.

In the puffy breeze, her light blond hair fluttered in the air, like wisps of gauze. She had long legs, a modest bust, obviously athletic as he could see how the dress clung to her tight abs... and her chest... and her bottom... Merlin! she was beautiful, even before she turned to look up at him. She was maybe forty feet below him, but even at that distance he could make out her cute nose, dark eyes and facial features that he felt drawn too.

Harry knew he could resist, and even throw off, the imperius curse. He could ignore the allure of a veela. He could even throw off possession by the most dangerous wizard in the world. Even so, there was something about this girl that he felt he couldn't resist. It wasn't something that was trying to control him, but it was something that pulled at him.

Unsure what to do, Harry smiled back when she gave him a smile.

When he gave her a small wave, she mirrored his actions.

Just to be sure that she was looking at him, he turned around to see if anyone else was around. The only ones around were this girl and the waves. Off in the distance, he could the other hotels and the town. Here, it was just them.

After a moment, she started to make her way up the rocks. Harry didn't move, just watching the easy way she picked her way along the water sculpted rocks. His eyes followed her form as it twisted and moved, his eyes following how the dress pulled tight. When she made it to the top, she gave him another smile before sitting next to him, pulling the dress under her as she sat.

She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Ah, hi," he said stupidly, realizing to late he should have gotten up to help her.

"Hi," she repeated.

They sat there for a moment.

When she spoke again, Harry found he really liked her voice. "I'm Naila. Who are you?"

"Uhm, Harry. Harry Potter," he said, holding out his hand.

She looked looked at it for a moment before gently taking it. His breath caught to feel her soft skin and the way something tingled up his arm. When she let go, he found himself wishing she hadn't.

"I have been watching you. You look sad," she told him. "Most don't look sad when come out here."

He raised his eyebrows. "Maybe a little. Were you watching me long?"

She pulled her knees up and rested her arms on them, leaning over a little. "I saw you sit. That is all I am supposed to do. Just watch."

He found that an odd statement. "What do you mean just watch?"

She turned her dark eyes away from him. "That is all I am supposed to do. I'll probably get in trouble for talking to you later, but you look so sad. Why are you so sad?" She turned her back to him, her dark eyes locking on his.

He really didn't want to talk to anyone about his problems, especially not such a beautiful girl that had just seemed to come out nowhere. One he was sure he was not imagining. Instead he said, "I lost someone that meant alot to me."

Harry pulled up his knees and put his arms on them, like her, before resting his chin on his arms.

She leaned over to copy him. "I lost my father a dozen moons back. I am still sad about that, but my village has helped."

Harry gave her a wan smile. "I'm sorry to hear that. My parents died when I was really young. I don't remember them."

"My mother says that they never truly die, not as long as someone remembers them," she replied.

He tried to nod, but wasn't that successful with how his head rested on his arms. "I suppose that is true."

"What do remember of the one you lost?"

Harry gave a more genuine smile. "He was my godfather. Someone that cared for me. He was one of the best friends of my parents and had lots of good stories about them." He snorted as a good memory came to him. "He once told me that my father and him where threatened to be expelled from school if they were caught outside of the grounds to many times. They used to sneak into town all the time."

She gave him a small smile. "I get in trouble for sneaking to the water's edge."

"Are you sneaking now?"

"Most definitely," she told him, a bright smile coming to her face as she turned to meet his eyes.

Harry laughed. "Should I escort you home?"

"No. I don't have to be back until the moon drops," she told him, looking at the nearly full moon. Last night had been the full moon. Looking at his watch, Harry realized it was past midnight now. It was actually close to one.

Harry shrugged. "Good. This is nice."

She regarded him for a few. "This is nice," she agreed. "Will you be here again tomorrow night?"

"Maybe I'll sneak out again if you are around," he said, being far more forward that he was used to being.

She laughed. "Are you supposed to be sneaking out?"

"Definitely not," he replied with a cheeky grin. She giggled. It was a musical sound that lifted his heart.

"You are a trouble maker, aren't you, Harry Potter?"

He laughed. "Not of my own choosing," he told her, and he really didn't get into much trouble that was caused by him... except Sirius... his mood deflated and the melancholy that had taken over the last week had come back. He didn't even feel angry anymore... unless he thought of Dumbledore. No, it was just sadness. A great sadness at times.

"It makes you sad to be a troublemaker?" she queried.

He shook his head. "No. My godfather and father would probably love me to make some trouble. It makes me sad to think of them."

She nodded her head.

They sat for a few, the sounds of the waves the only thing interrupting the night.

"Would you return here tomorrow night?" Naila asked him.

"If I can," he answered truthfully.

She cocked her head, the blond hair behind her ear coming loose. "You would not hold your word?"

"I never said that. I just can't guarantee my relatives will let me come," he told her.

"And if I was to be here waiting for you?"

There was something in her tone that pulled at his heart. "Then I would find anyway to be here," he said before he could think.

Her eyes bored into his, as though searching for something deep that Harry wasn't sure he knew how to give her. "Can you tell me more about your godfather?" she eventually asked.

Harry found himself spilling everything to her. About how Sirius had been wrongly accused. How he hated living in his mother's house. Most importantly, he found himself confessing about the little bit of fun they had had together and telling more stories about Sirius and his parents. As he talked, something in him felt lighter. She listened and asked more questions. He couldn't ever remember anyone ever just listening to him. She showed sympathy and laughed when he did.

The moon was getting low when he finally fell silent. In that time, she had moved closer and Harry had put his lined, flannel shirt around her. It was chilly out, but he felt warm with her just about touching him now.

She held the shirt tight to her.

"Naila, what was your father like?"

She gave a sad smile. "He was a good man. A brave hunter and warrior. A great chief of our village. He taught my brothers and I all about the hunt, magic of the storm and the creatures the surface. I miss him," she said simply.

Harry blinked at her. In the few hours they had sat there, Harry had assumed she was a Muggle. "You're a witch?" he suddenly asked.

She gave a coy smile. "Not exactly."

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I do have magic, but I am not allowed to possess a wand," she told him, looking a little nervous.

Harry just stared at her for a few. There would be only a few ways that would make sense... "Oh, okay," he said, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. Harry had nothing against those that were not full human. People like Remus, Hagrid and Fleur were good people. One of his favorite professors was part-goblin.

She still looked at him nervously. "You don't have a problem with this?"

"No. I really don't care," he told her honestly.

She blinked a few times, her body relaxing as she seemed to accept his words. "You are not a normal wizard, Harry Potter."

He chuckled. "So I have been told."

She gave him a smile.

Getting up a courage he didn't know he had, he asked her, "Can you go out tomorrow?"

Biting her lip, he thought her really cute. "I am not supposed to go into town. I can only watch."

"Oh," he said a little dejectedly.

"I will meet you back here, before the moon mother reaches her zenith?" she put to him.

Harry felt his spirits lift. "Sounds like a date," he said.

She smiled. "I would like to go on a date. I have heard people talking about them."

"Are you sure you can't come into town?" he asked.

She looked over his shoulder with a longing look. "I am not supposed too," she told him.

He wouldn't press her. "I'll meet you back here tomorrow night."

"Please be here," she sounded like she was almost pleading with him.

"I promise," he told her.

She nodded and moved to get up. Harry quickly got to his feet, wiping the sand off his bottom. She took his flannel off and handed it to him. Harry held out his hand. "You can keep it for the day. I'll get it tomorrow."

She gave a shy smile. "It is better I do not take it. Thank you for tonight."

Harry had moved in closer to put the flannel shirt around her shoulders again when she darted closer, stepping on her toes and planting a kiss on his lips. Harry stood there stunned. When she pulled back, there was a mischeivious glint to her eyes. "Tonight, Harry Potter."

Ducking his arms as he fully realized what had just happened, he turned. "NAILA, WAIT!"

She was already jumping down the rocks, nimbler than anyone he had ever seen. Her light blonde hair trailed behind her as her blue dress sparkled in the moonlight. He dumbly watched as she approached the water's edge now. Slipping behind a rock, she was out of sight and then didn't reappear.

He watched the spot for a few minutes before realizing she was gone.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered, "Bloody hell, who was that?"

After a moment, he touched his lips. It was still tingling where she had kissed him. He shook his head. Looking back at where she had dissapeared, he was starting to wonder what she was. The only two beings he knew that lived in the water were merfolk or selkies. He had seen merfolk before, and they didn't look anything like a human girl. The old tales of selkies had them turning into humans.

Could she be a selkie?

With all his books locked in the cupboard back in Privet Drive, he couldn't look it up.

Harry was sure of one thing, he would be back here tomorrow night.

As he walked back towards the hotel, Harry had a goofy grin come over his face.

It was close to four when he finally came back into the room. Usually the girl would be gone by the time he would get back. Tonight, Harry got a good look at Dudley spooning with a more full figure girl and his hand over one of her large breasts. Shaking his head, he crawled into bed after changing. The smile on his face was as much as the tingly sensation from the kiss Naila had given him as the show he was going to get in the morning...

-oOo-

July 30, 1996

Newquay, Cornwall

"Time to get up, Dudley," Aunt Petunia said as she came into the room. Harry was up immediately.

Harry made sure he was rolled over so that they wouldn't see him. The scream from his aunt just about matched that of the girl with Dudley. He tried hard not to laugh. Listening to his aunt yell at the hussy as the girl scrambled to find her clothes and Dudley fighting with him mother about it had him trying to hide his laughs.

"You are only sixteen," Aunt Petunia screached.

"Madison, wait," Dudley yelled after the girl.

"What the ruddy hell is going on in here... who are you?" Uncle Vernon questioned.

"Excuse me," the girl said.

"Madison, wait," Dudley called again.

"It's Mandy," she said yelled back as a parting shot.

"What are you doing with that floosy?" his aunt screeched.

"Mum, I'm old enough..."

"You are only sixteen," she shot back. It was actually really nice to hear Dudley being yelled at for once.

"Now, now, pet. Is this really a big deal," Uncle Vernon tried to calm his aunt, but there was a smugness to his voice.

"Don't you dare, Vernon," she yelled.

And alarm went off from his cousin's digital watch. "I need to get going mum. I have surfing lessons in a half hour.

"This isn't done. When you get back later, we are having a talk," Aunt Petunia said in an angry voice. Harry heard her storm out of the room.

Once she was gone, Uncle Vernon said, "Don't worry about your mum. I'll talk to her. Just make sure you are safe." Harry heard the pride in his uncles voice.

Harry pretended to still be sleeping while his cousin got ready. When he was going to walk out, Dudley said, "Harry, wake me before mum gets up tomorrow. If you do, I'll make sure Polkiss and them don't bug you for the rest of the summer."

Harry rolled over, looking at his cousin. Since he had saved him last summer from the Dementors, Dudley had treated him like he was a person when it was just them. "I am going to go out tonight. Will you tell Aunt Petunia?"

Dudley looked at Harry for a moment. "Just make sure you get me up on time and I'll keep up my side of the deal."

Harry nodded.

Then, to Harry's biggest surprise, Dudley said, "Harry Birthday. I'll see if I can keep mum and dad off you today."

He blinked as the big boy left the room.

Unsure what to think, Harry lay back down and fell back to sleep. He could eat lunch in the hotel restaurant later. He wasn't supposed to leave these walls. Luckily that was inside the walls of the hotel.

-oOo-

After dark...

As Dudley was taking a new girl in, about eleven, Harry slipped out of the room. He took his invisibility cloak out of a pocket that he had put an extension charm on, and slipped it over his shoulders. It didn't take long to find the same knoll on the edge of the water swept rocks. A smile came to his face to see Naila already sitting their. It was a little breezier tonight and the waves a little more active.

He took a moment to watch her hair flap in the breeze. Clouds were filtering the moonlight so he couldn't see her as clearly as he did last night, but he wasn't sure he needed too. There seemed to be a very slight light coming from her dress. It was the same one she had on last night.

Harry walked down, taking his cloak off and putting it into his trouser pocket. Without thinking about it, he took off his flannel and put it over her shoulders before he sat next to her. She reached up and took the long sleeve shirt, wrapping it tight around her. Her head move to look up and Harry felt his pulse heat up when her dark eyes met his. "Hello, Harry Potter," she said. The musical quality of her voice pulled at him.

How could he feel this when he could resist a Veela?

"Hi, Naila," he told her, taking a seat next to her. He sat close, and once he was down, she shifted so that her body was right against his.

"Have you ever looked at the stars?" she asked him.

Harry looked up. "We study them at Hogwarts."

"So you see the way they shift in the heavens, but always come back to the same spot. Except the strange ones. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn. The old gods still move things here on earth," she told him.

Harry had no idea what she was on about, but followed her hand as she turned and pointed to points behind them. "The great water god, Neptune, stands between his brothers, Saturn and Jupiter. This is a sign of unity and prosperity. Mars is still below the horizon at this time and will stand separate, a sign that strife is on the horizon, but is not quite here yet. The fertility goddess Venus does not rise until closer to dawn, meaning she will bless new beginnings. Today is an important day for you, isn't it, Harry Potter?"

Harry watches as she pointed out the planets in the Eastern sky, and where the others would rise. He felt like he just had a mixture of his Astronomy and Divination class and for the first time realized that there could be an importance behind them. "It's my birthday in a few minutes," he told her.

"How old will you be?"

her dark orbs turned back to him and he Harry felt like his very soul was being examined. It wasn't uncomfortable though, as she seemed to be offering hers. He didn't get it, but he liked the warmth that passed between them.

"Sixteen," Harry replied.

She looked confused for a moment. "How many moons?"

Harry blinked. "I have to clue," he told her.

"I am almost two-hundred and fourteen moons. The great sea mother has gone around the great fire god almost sixteen times," she said, her hand sweeping across the sky.

Harry understood. She wasn't a human. She was selkie, or something like that. "We call one rotation around the sun... the great fire god," Harry told her as her confused look. "We call one of those rotations a year." He looked at his watch. "In just a moment, it will be sixteen years. Sixteen rotations."

Understanding lit in her eyes. "I am two days away," she told him.

Harry nodded.

"What is it like where you live?" Naila asked.

Harry didn't want to answer, so he tried to come up with the best answer he could. "Nothing like this. Things are so open here. Back... in Little Whinging..." Harry couldn't bring himself to say home. "Well, its lots of houses, really close together. The few green areas are just old farm land around the neighborhood. I like it in Scotland alot more."

She was still looking at him as he looked away. "What is nice about Scotland?"

Harry looked out at the sea. Naila shifted so that more of her body was pressing against his as a cool puff of air came over them. Harry really liked having her this close. "More like this. Around Hogwarts there are mountains, large lawns, a giant forest and a lake. I also get to fly my broom." He paused for a moment. "I think I like it the most because I feel free."

Naila moved a hand out of his flannel and Harry liked the warmth in it when her hand found his. There was something soothing about it.

"Naila, how it is living in the ocean?" Harry asked, for the first time putting words to his suspicions. Naila tensed for a moment. "Naila, I can tell you are selkie or something else. I really don't care. What is it like?"

She didn't say anything for a few. Harry was starting to get nervous that he had really screwed this up, except for the fact she had not let go of his hand yet, nor had she tried to separate from him. Harry looked back to her, not realizing she was staring so intently at him. Her dark eyes looked a little apprehensive, which had Harry take his free arm and wrap it around her shoulders, but protective nature kicking in. Or maybe he was just starved for attention or any type of affection and just found he didn't want her to go. Either way, Harry found himself doing things he normally wouldn't.

"You know?" she finally asked.

"I thought it a little obvious when you took off into the water last night," he said, trying to sound like he was teasing her.

"And you don't care? I know how wizards view us," she told him.

"I have a friend who is a werewolf, another that is part veela and my oldest friend is a half-giant. He was the first one to tell me about the wizarding world. I really don't care," Harry told her. Although, Harry was rethinking the friend thing with Hagrid, who hadn't heard from either. Remus and Fleur were not ones to often send him mail so he didn't think their silence this summer was off. "What is it like where you live?"

She didn't blink. "It is nice, at times. The waters are calm. We find many fish. My father and others used to hunt the seals and the fish with many teeth. Mother and the elders would not be happy to know I have come to the surface, but I heard a call."

Harry nodded before saying, "Aren't selkies seal-folk?"

For the first time she shifted uncomfortably. "I am of the merrow," she said a little lowly.

If Hagrid and Hermione had not gotten him those books this year about the Denizens of the Deep, Harry would have been clueless. Merrow were a type of mermaid that frequented these waters. There had been tales of them being able to take human form, but no one seemed to agree on that in the other books they had found. One think that Hermione found in the Restricted section had mentioned something about Merrows being able to come onto the land, but he couldn't remember why...

He did know that the merrow differed from other merfolk. They were the true half-human fish folk. their upper bodies were that of a human and the bottom was that of a fish. Not like the mermen in the Black Lake.

Harry shrugged his free shoulder. "Wicked," Harry said.

She looked at him puzzled. "I am not wicked," she said after a moment.

Harry laughed, and wish he hadn't when she looked hurt, for the first time trying to pull away. "No, that isn't what I meant. Its neat," he said. When she didn't seem to understand, Harry said, "When people say 'wicked' like that, it's a good thing."

It took her a moment before she nodded and moved back into his side. She lifted his arm to go back around her shoulders.

"The stars are past their zenith. Happy birthday, Harry Potter," she said to him.

Harry gave her a smile. He was about to thank her when she leaned towards him and when her mouth met his, this time he was ready. Harry had hoped he might find a way to kiss her again. He kissed back. Not in the way he had seen many at school when they were in a full on snog, but it wasn't quite innoscent either. When they broke apart, Harry put his forehead on hers. He had never felt this way before, and definitely not for someone so quickly.

Naila looked up into his eyes. "Tomorrow is my two-hundred and fourteenth moon birth. Today is yours. As rights of my people, it is traditional to celebrate such auspicious days."

Harry, his hormones feeling up, asked, "What do you mean?"

Her eyes look on a liquid quality that he found caused his body to respond. "It is tradition for a maiden to giver herself to the mating rights," she told him.

A lump formed in his throat and his eyes grew a little larger. "Mating?" he squeaked, before clearing his voice. Colour raced to his cheeks. "Mating?" he said in a little more of an even voice.

"The goddess Venus will rise a little before the dawn of this day. She wishes a celebration of life for the those that Mars will claim not long for now. My great father, Neptune, blesses any union. To stand between his brothers means he wished his kin to walk the land. I don't wish to mate to any of my kin. They are either too old or too young. They also to not walk the land," she told him. Harry could hear the importance behind her words. It was like magic herself was pushing him towards her. After everything that has happened to him, Harry's first instinct was to fight against this pull. On the other hand, Naila was very beautiful, she was asking for his help... was that the difference? She was asking. Naila was asking. Even with mother magic pushing him, it was Naila that was asking him.

Harry licked his lips. "I've never, ah, mated before," he told her.

Naila's intense gaze didn't lessen and she didn't make fun of him. Instead, she kissed him again. Harry met her and they kissed for a while before pulling away. "I have not mated either. I only ask for you not to hurt me more than is necessary."

Harry looked at her concerned. "I would never hurt you," Harry tried to assure her.

She nodded and then pushed the flannel shirt off her shoulders, having it bundle at her bottom. Harry felt his blood quicken. He looked around quickly, to make sure no one was looking. "The moon mother and water father watch over us. We will be protected," Naila told him, bringing his attention back to her. She stood up, her hands going to the top of the shimmery dress. Harry watched speechless as she pulled it down, exposing decent sized breasts with large nipples. As it slid further down her body, Harry forced himself to follow the material. Her stomach was tone and flat. Her skin was perfect, all the way down to the cleft between her legs. As she stepped out of the dress, he got a peek at the folds between her legs.

In reponse, he dick was rock hard in his pants. When the dress was kicked to the side, she looked down at him in all her glory. Where he felt a little self concious that he was going to have to be the same in just a moment, she looked confortable in her skin. As though taking it as a challenge, Harry got up and pulled the t-shirt over his head as quickly as possible, then fumbled with his belt buckle for a moment before dropping them. His shorts joined his trousers.

Harry wasn't as small as he used to be, having actually put on some muscle last year, and kept it on as his relatives actually fed him this year. It was part of their deal that he would not cause any issues on this holiday.

Little Harry was anything but small or scrawny at the moment.

They both stood a little awkardly before each other, until Harry took some courage and moved closer. Out of instinct, he found himself putting a hand to her cheek. She nuzzled into his palm. "We don't have to do this, Naila."

"Do you not find me physically fit and of good child raring stock?" she asked, sounding a little hurt.

Harry was not ready for children. "I find you very beautiful," he told her. She really was.

Naila met his eyes. "You will mate with me?"

Harry answered by moving his hand into her hair and gently pulling her to him. She put her hands on his side as he initiated the kiss this time. To feel her breasts against his chest and to suddenly have her tongue in his mouth had him wrap his other arms around her waist. He pulled her in. His dick pressed hard into her, a wet spot causing him to groan as she moved up to stand as tall as he did.

After a moment, Naila pulled him down to the ground. She must have spread out his flannel when he was taking his clothes off. Harry kissed her as they went down, Naila moving so that her legs were spread and Harry was between them, his dick laying against her folds. Naila shivered.

"Are you cold?" he asked, pulling up.

She shook her head, her whole body seeming to quiver. "I am warm. I am ready," she told him, pulling him back down to kiss him. Her hips bucked, eliciting a groan from both of them. Harry propped himself up enough to position himself. She spread her legs wider and wrapped them around him.

Harry pushed in as she pulled him down with her legs. He slid in. She stopped kissing him, her eyes closed. When he pressed past a tight spot, she whimpered a little and he got up enough to see her face. She looked to be in a little pain. "Did I hurt you?"

Her eyes opened. "It will pass in a moment. You don't need to be as gentle."

Harry couldn't do that. If she was in pain, he didn't want to hurt her. With how her legs were holding him inside her, he couldn't move out. There was also that very small selfish part that rarely showed its head that said this was one of the greatest sensations of his life.

After a moment, Naila pulled him down to kiss. "Mate with me, Harry Potter."

At her urging, he started to move in and out. It was such a natural thing, his body just knew what to do. Harry had always been much better at the physical and practical side of this schooling, many times being a natural. Here, he let her movement and sounds of pleasure or pain, guide him.

It wasn't long before he suddenly found his release. In that moment, Naila pulled her legs forward, making sure Harry was as deep into her as he could be as his body shook with his orgasm. "I am yours, Harry Potter," she whispered into his ear. In that moment, Harry would have freely given himself to her.

As he thought that, it was like the universe had finally been benevolent enough to give him something good, something that was his. As he grunted one last time, a magic seemed to flow out of him. It shocked him at the sudden rush of power. Naila's eyed rolled back into her head and she bucked up, driving Harry's crotch against hers. Her body shook, tightening around him as she looked to be in the most intense pleasure.

Harry thought he was done, but as her insides clenched around his shaft, Harry found himself exploding inside her again. As he did, this time he felt her magic wash back into him. It was an intense few minutes before they both collapsed from the release of magic.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 2

July 31, 1996

Newquay, Cornwall

Harry woke up shivering. Naila was wrapped to his side, his flannel shirt only covering her top. They were both as bare as the day they were born. Feeling her form and breasts again him was the only thing keeping him warm int he cool fog that was around him.

It was so dark that Harry could barely see.

As he lay there, Harry was trying to figure out what had happened last night. Tonight? It was still night, right?

He managed to get his arm over Naila's head and used his other hand find his glasses. The enchantments on them to maginify light allowed him to see it was getting close to five.

"Shite!" he let out. Naila shifted next to him.

What was he going to do?

A merrow was half sleeping on him. He felt chilled and her legs didn't feel much better. They were both nude in the sandy knoll and MERLIN! his body betrayed him as her leg shifted and he felt her chest brush his.

"Shite! Shite! Shite! Shite! SHITE!" he muttered.

After a moment, he found himself regretting what he had to do. "Naila," he softly said, tapping her shoulder.

He had to repeat this a few times before she shifted. "Must sleep," she told him.

"Naila, we have to get up. It's getting close to dawn. You have to go back and I have to go back to room," he told her.

She took a moment to really stir. By now, the fog was starting to lighten up enough that he could see her. She looked a little concerned. "I am yours, Harry Potter. I don't go back," she told him. There was a hint of sadness to the way she said it, but a small smile came to her face.

Harry's heart pounded against his chest. "You don't mean... last night... when we mated... I am your mate?"

"The moon mother and ocean god has agreed to us. The woman of magic, Nimue, has given her blessing. I am yours," she told him.

BLOODY FUCK! he screamed in his head. "When you said mating... I didn't think..."

Her smile was soft. "It is not often that the gods of land and water bless such a union. I was not seeking my life mate last night," she told him, and Harry felt she was telling him the truth.

With understanding he said, "You just wanted control of something because you didn't think you had any?"

She nodded. "Mother may not be pleased until she knows this was a blessed union. You will not be required to pay tribute to the one that was to have me tomorrow," she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. She touched her lips. "I feel the magic you gave me."

BLOODY FUCK! he screamed in his head again.

"So, this means what? You are my wife? Why can't you go back?" Harry asked her, sitting up and starting to look for his clothes. They had to leave here. It was getting brighter out and Harry had to get back to warn Dudley.

"I am your life-mate. I will be fertile for you. Share my magic and life with you," she told him.

Of course this would happen to him. "So, you are to stay with me?"

She nodded. Harry got his trousers on and looked around. "Where is your dress?"

There was that hint of sadness again. "I am a land walker now. That is the price to be a life-mate blessed by Nimue."

Harry ran his hands through his hair. FFUUUUUCCCCK! He was going to give himself a headache if he kept screaming like that without opening his mouth. "Naila, you can't go back to being a merrow?"

She shook he head. "I can still talk with the fish, and call the winds, but I will never swim with my kind again."

He let out a big breath. "Right," he said, trying to force the panick gripping him down. "Right. Put this on," he told her, handing her the large shirt. It would look like an overlarge night shirt on her. She put it on and Harry made sure she his flannel was over her before they started back to the hotel.

"You are not happy with me?" she asked into his agitation.

Harry let out a sigh. "I never said that."

"Your body says it," she told him, looking upset.

Harry stopped, pinched the bridge of his nose and forced his fear and anger at the world down. It would figure that the gods themselves would mess with is life. When he let go and looked to Naila, she was looking down, holding the flannel tight around her. After last year, Harry had learned the power of believing someone. He really didn't get the feeling she had been trying to trap him and his stupid hormones wanted what she was offering.

"Naila, I am not upset with you. If you say you didn't know this would happen, then I believe you," he told her. "I just have no idea how my relatives will take this. Gods, I don't know how everyone else will take this."

"You are still unhappy with me," Naila said.

Harry looked her in the eyes when she lifted her head. Harry had been rejected and put down all his life. He would not do that to this girl. "Naila, if magic has decided you are my wife, then I promise to you I will never be unhappy with you."

Her eyes lost most of the sad quality to them. "Then why are you so upset? A life-mate union that is blessed by Nimue and sanctioned by Jupiter is a blessing."

Harry took in a long breath. "Naila, my relatives don't really believe in all that. They go to church to look good. I don't think my aunt or uncle really believe what the Vicor says. I have seen stuff from both worlds, and the only higher power that ever seems to take interest in my is magic. If Jupiter and Nimeu bless us, I will take your word, but my relatives won't. I don't even know if most wzards would."

She looked horrified at what he said. "Wizards and your relatives don't believe in the heavens, the ocean and the lands?"

Harry wasn't sure to laugh or pull out his hair. "Not that I have really seen. I think most used too, but not any more."

"Harry Potter, that is sacrilege," she told him earnestly. "You are blessed by magic, the great goddess Nimeu. She had blessed all those able to use magic, but you are are one of her favored. A champion. She had gifted me to you after Jupiter has agreed."

All he could do is nod. "OH, Merlin. Naila, you have let me do the talking. If things don't go well, we will need to get out of here. Just stick close to me."

His watch started to chime. "Bloody hell," he exclaimed. Grabbing her hand, he ran towards the hotel, finding the road in the fog. They must have looked the sight to the fishermen getting out of their cars. A sixteen-year-old-boy only in shoes and his trousers, pulling along a blonde girl in an over sized shirt and flannel that was baring her bottom at times...

Harry pulled her into the hotel and up to his room. It wasn't quiet six yet so he held a finger to his lips. Naila got it, moving in closer and not saying a word. She pressed into his back. Unlocking the door, they snuck into the room. Dudley was on the bed. He was entangled in the bed with the same girl he had been with yesterday morning.

"Go sit on the bed." He indicated the one that had not been slept in.

Harry went over to his lightly snoring cousin. "Dudley. Dudley. You need to get up."

The girl with her head on Dudley's chest opened her eyes. They were unfocused and she looked barely awake. "Ten more minutes."

Harry rolled his eyes. He had a thought that having Dudley found with this girl again might ease what he has to deal with. As much as he hated his cousin, they had made a deal. "Dudley. Get up," Harry whispered, shaking his shoulder.

Harry didn't expect the fist that came from below him. After connecting with his chin, he was flung against the wall. Harry slumped to the floor before the screaming started. "HARRY POTTER!" Naila screeched.

"What the bloody hell was that for!" the girl, Mandy, yelled at Dudley.

Dudley was now up, blinking stupidly as his body came to life. Harry was able to look up just in time to see Naila launching herself at Dudley. The big boy was still out of it and didn't do anything to stop Naila from landing a solid punch to his face. To Dudley's credit, he just grunted as his head twisted to the side. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Mandy yelled.

Naila wasn't done though. She started to pummel Dudley, who retaliated after the first few. Harry rushed to his feet, seeing it coming, but he couldn't stop his gorrilla of a cousin. His fist connected with Naila's stomach and she doubled over. Dudley's other hand was coming up, probably out of reflex with his boxing training. Harry tackled Naila down before his fist connected with her head. Harry took it to his side, a pain ripping through him.

Naila and him landed in a lump on the floor. Mandy was screaming about something. Dudley was shaking his head, looking a little dazed. Harry groaned as he sat up. Out of instinct, his hand grabbed for his wand. He moved to put himself between Naila and the furious man in the door. "What the ruddy hell is going on!" Uncle Vernon roared.

Dudley rubbed his jaw. "Who the bloody hell hit me."

Mandy screamed again to see his uncle in the door. She grabbed for a sheet to cover her nude form. Uncle Vernon's eyes darted quickly between Dudley, Mandy and then him. Seeing Harry's wand, the man's red face turned a nice puce.

Bloody hell. There goes the nice way, a voice in Harry's head yelled.

"Vernon, we can't have another complaint," is aunt said, suddenly at the door.

Vernon took a few threatening steps in and Harry made sure his wand was pointed at his uncle's face. A sausage size finger came up as Aunt Petunia shut the door. "Put that away, boy, before I break you."

"You will not hurt Harry Potter," Naila said behind him. The air in the room started to stir. The anger immediately turned to fear in his uncle. There was a light blue light coming from behind him.

"You... you... not outside of that freaky school," Uncle Vernon said in a low, dangerous voice.

Harry turned to look at Naila. She had a red spot on her cheek and a ball of blue light in her left hand. Her right was across her stomach.

The last thing they needed was to alert the Ministry where he was. "Uncle Vernon, just stay there," Harry demanded. There was a power to his voice that had everyone hold very still. Catching Naila's eyes, Harry turned fully to her, lowering his wand to his side. Her eyes were darting from his cousin to this uncle. "Naila?"

Her hand shot up and pointed towards Dudley. As her hand hand curled up, she palmed the light in it. "He attacked you."

"I just surprised him," Harry told her. "There is not other danger, but if you do any magic around me, we may be in real danger."

Her eyes drifted to his. She looked rather fierce. He knew her father had been a warrior. He was thinking she was as well, or maybe her whole people were. After a moment, she huffed and the light went out in her hand. "What the ruddy hell is going on," his uncle said angrily.

Harry spun and raised his wand again. His uncle stopped. "Uncle Vernon, you dare threaten my wife or me I swear I don't care if the Ministry comes and has to obliviate you all until you are vegetables."

His uncles face pales some when his aunt squeaked.

"Magic is real?" Mandy asked. He chanced a look at her. Her eyes were wide as saucers.

Harry heaved a heavy sigh. "Bloody fuck," Harry muttered.

Dudley, finally looking fully away, got out of bed, stepping before Mandy. "You are not obviating Mandy."

"At least you got her name right this morning," Harry snarked. "And it's obliviate."

"I want you out," Uncle Vernon said. "I don't care where you go. I want you out of this hotel and I want you out of our house."

"Vernon, we can't," his aunt said.

"No, Petunia, I've had enough. His is threatening me for the last time and I don't even want that freaky trollop around..." his uncle stopped as sparks came out of Harry's wand.

"Don't call Naila a freak or a trollop, uncle," Harry threatened.

"You can't do magic," his aunt said, moving to shield herself behind her husband.

"I can if I need to defend myself," Harry told her. "Are you sure you want me gone?"

"Yes," Uncle Vernon told him.

Harry looked to Aunt Petunia. Before she could answer, a knock came a the door. Everyone looked apprehensive, except Naila, who still looked ready to take on both his cousin and uncle. "Everyone just stay quiet," Uncle Vernon told them.

Harry pushed Naila back to the far side of the room. His uncle opened the door and there was a few moments of whispered conversation. Harry's mind was whirling. He couldn't let Naila be around his relatives for too long. Making up his mind, Harry reached under his bed and took out the backpack he had been allowed to take. He opened it, fished out one of the few good shirts, an extra pair of boxer shorts and some regular shorts. Harry didn't have other trousers and they were the smallest things he had on him. He had and handed it to Naila. "Go into the bathroom and get changed, we are leaving," he told her.

Mandy was now looking for her own clothes and Dudley pulled on some boxers as Aunt Petunia had gone over to the door. Harry took out the only other good shirt he had and pulled hit over his head. "Harry, what the hell happened? Was that you that hit me?"

Harry looked up to his cousin, his anger flaring. "You are a complete moron, Dudley. Why did you hit me?"

Dudley rubbed his jaw. "I didn't know it was you. Sometimes at Smeltings they do bed raids and you have to make sure they don't get you."

Harry shook his head. His glasses shifted and he straightened them out. "It was Naila that hit you."

"That little thing?" Dudley said, motioning towards the bathroom. Mandy came up to him. "Dudley, I have to go. I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry about this morning," Dudley said, reaching over to wrap an arm around her and pull her in to give her a kiss.

Naila came out of the room in Harry's clothes. Harry moved over to her as his uncle closed the door to the room. The man glared at him. "Out. Now," he said, as though incapable of saying anything else.

"Vernon, you know we can't," his aunt said.

"I'll make it easy. We are leaving," Harry told her, taking Naila's hand.

"Good. Go." Uncle Vernon opened the door.

"I should just go too," Mandy said from behind them.

"No. I think you can stay and we can have a talk with my son. Harry, just wait for me in the restaurant," his aunt told him.

"Petunia, he had to go," his uncle demanded.

"Excuse me," Harry said, pushing past them, Naila not letting his hand go.

"Harry, wait for me," he aunt said before his uncle slammed the door.

Harry went to the front desk. "Can I help you, sir?" the woman behind it asked.

"Is there a train or bus station around here?" Harry asked her. He didn't want to try form of magical travel, sure that Voldemort or someone at the Ministry would be looking for him. Having been completely shut out from the magical world since the night Sirius died, he had no idea if he was still hated or not and couldn't take the risk.

"There are both. The train will be quicker," the woman said before looking at them. "Are you just going out for the day?"

"Yeah, something like that. Where is the train station?"

"Down in the center of town, off of Cliff Road. If you are just going out for the day, I can book tickets for you and your family once the counter opens at nine," she told him.

Harry shook his head. "My uncle just wanted to know. Thank you," Harry said, pulling Naila along as they walked out the hotel. he didn't stop until he found a bench next to a stair leading down to the beach. When they sat, Naila reached up and touched his jaw. It was tender.

"Does that hurt?" she asked, moving to put a small kiss on his chin. His side was sore, but nothing that he hadn't had worse before.

"I'm fine," he told her. "Are you hurt?"

"My stomach will feel better," she told him. Harry put a hand on her stomach and she put her left over it.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

"The big boy was hurting you," she told him. "I couldn't allow that."

Harry chuckled. "That was some punch. You must be stronger than you look."

She sat up tall. "I am the daughter of the former clan chief. If I had my spear, he would have been gutted."

Harry gave a nervous chuckle this time. "Right. Only do that if we are really threatened."

"As my life-mate wishes, but I will not allow others to hurt you if I can do something," she told him.

"Nor will I. Give me a moment to figure out what we are going to do," Harry told her, reaching into his bag. He pulled out a pouch and then reached for his wallet. Harry had everything he needed to last a few days to a week in case he had to run. Though, Harry expected he would have to run because of Death Eaters, not his cousin.

In his billfold he found a fiver and a twenty pound note, plus some change. The pouch in his hand clinked as he opened it. Sirius had told him to be prepared, so he had taken almost four times the coin from his vault last summer and had converted some of it to pound notes. There was well over five-hundred galleons in the expanded and magically lightened pouch. There was also just under a thousand pounds. Not having much of a chance to use it, he still had over nine-hundred. That would be enough to get to London, feed them, and he figured he would be able to find a safe house at Grimmauld Place. Sirius had told him that Harry was going to be left everything and he couldn't think of another option. From there, they could figure out the next step.

He took five twenty notes and handed them to Naila. "This is Muggle money. I want you to put this into your pocket. We need to find you shoes and something better to wear."

Naila took the notes and looked at them, holding them up to light of the fuddy morning. "What do I do with this?"

"You can buy things. I'll show you. I want to get to the train station and figure out when the next train is leaving, then we can get some breakfast," he told her, putting the pouch back into his bag. He checked to make sure he still had wand holdster, the pocket with his Firebolt and the knife Sirius had given him. He took out the holster and put it on his wand. It was still early enough that no one was really out and didn't see him slip his wand up his sleeve.

"Harry Potter, where are we going?"

"A safe place, but it might take a few hours. Naila, are you sure you can't go back?" Harry put to her, looking at her.

"I am your life-mate, Harry Potter," she told hims rather defiantly.

Harry had to try. Being around him was dangerous, as this morning already had shown. "Can you just call me Harry?"

She regarded him. "Your name is Harry Potter?"

"Yes."

"Then why just call you Harry?"

"Becuase that is name. Potter is my surname," he told her. "I like just Harry between my friends, and my life-mate."

She nodded.

"What is your full name?"

"I am Naila, daughter of Esemel and Iawa. Life-Mate of Harry Potter," she told him.

He nodded. That was a long name. One that would have them stick out almost anywhere, Muggle or Magical. Magic has blessed him. Naila was his magic blessed life-mate, his wife. There was a pit in his stomach to think he was married. He had no clue how he was going to explain this when he got back to Grimmauld Place. Of course that was if they let him in, though the Order should have no say. Sirius had told Harry that he had made him his heir last Christmas, meaning the house was his. Could they keep him out of his own house?

On the other hand, butterflies seemed to fly around the pit. Harry was married. He was married to a beautiful blonde merrow girl that had just about knocked out Dudley with a single punch. A smile slid onto his face at the thought. "Naila?"

She just held his eyes. Apparently she was still worked up and was not going to back down.

"Naila, we are married. Your name is very pretty and I love how you tell your heritage, but I think it better for now that you go around as Naila Potter. If we need to hide or anything, it will be a shorter name," he told her, hoping that it wouldb't paint as large a target on her as he feared it would.

She gave a single nod. "I will call myself Naila Potter if you want."

A car drove by, bringing Harry back to the immediate needs they had. "Right, lets find the train station and then get some breakfast."

When he got up, she took his hand. "Are you going to be alright?"

"I have been hit harder," she told him. The way she was walking now that the adrenaline had dropped told him she was feeling it.

"We'll find some paracetamol too," he told her.

They walked into town along the road by the cliff when Harry caught a sign with a train on it. The fog seemed to be getting denser and the light of the day was going to dull grey. It only took them a quarter hour to find the station and find that the train didn't leave until quarter after ten. Luckily, the ticket booth was open early since they sold bus tickets as well. The next bus would leave about the same time.

Harry looked at the schedules. After looking at Naila, who was looking all around the station, Harry decided thought the train would be better.

When the waitress came up, she gave them both a look. She was a kind looking woman who appeared to be in her fifties. "Up a little early, aren't you dearies?"

"I'm always up early. Thanks," Harry told her when they were handed menus.

"Tea?"

"The strongest you have," Harry requested. "Naila, do you want anything?"

She had taken the menu then just stared at it, a slight frown on her face. Harry caught that. It hadn't occured to him until he saw her face that she didn't know how to read... or maybe just not read English. "Can you bring some water and maybe some orange juice?"

"Sure, dear," the woman said, looking between them.

When she walked away, Harry leaned over, "Naila, can you read?"

She didn't meet his eyes. "I know my language, not this."

"Have you ever eaten, you know, normal land food?" he asked looking around. He had to be careful what he said and what they showed. In the hotel room had been one thing. Hopefully the obliviators didn't visit. He didn't want Mandy, or even Dudley, to be vegetables. His aunt and uncle on the other hand...

"I don't know what I like," she told him.

When the waitress came back over, Harry ordered them a relatively standard toasted muffins with eggs and bacon. Naila and him didn't talk much as they waited. Naila did find she like the orange juice, but not the tea he ordered. When the food came out, Naila looked a little dubious, but once she tried the egg and the muffin, she ate faster than him. She did not like the bacon, so Harry gave her the half of the second muffin he had left and stole her bacon.

"Do you know if any stores are open soon?" Harry asked as the bill was handed to him.

"What are you looking for?"

"My... girlfriend wanted to get some clothes and we are taking the bus at quarter past ten to go meet my parents in Plymouth," he told her. Mind as well leave a train that should put anyone following them off.

"There is a nice boutique just down the way, about a five minute walk. I think Madelyn's opens about nine," she told him.

Harry thanked her. Naila watched him. "You leave that paper? Why?"

"This is how we pay for things. We'll have enough to get us by for a little while, but not long. These are worth five pounds and these twenty pounds," Harry told her.

She looked confused. "Twenty pounds of what?"

"Ah," Harry told her, never thinking about it before. "I don't know. I just know that everyone here will accept them. I think one time it meant twenty pounds of silver."

She watched as he left the full twenty and a few coins. "What are the coins?"

"These are pence coins. One-hundred pence to a pound. This is five p, a twenty p and this is a pound coin."

"P?"

"Short for pence. It's eight-thirty. We can go find the boutique and then get back to the train station," he told her.

An hour later, Harry was paying for some clothes. She had gotten a skirt, a pair of trousers, a few shirts, a jumper and a light jacket. The lady insisted on them all and Harry had no clue if she did or not, but he liked the smile on Naila's face as she tried them on, and the way she looked in them. Luckily the shop also sold some trainers, so they walked out with her fully clothes and him a good hundred and fifty quid less. "Why do your clothes look so ragged compared to these?" she asked him, spinning a little to take in how her skirt twirled. Harry had a smile to see her long trim legs move like that.

"My relatives never really get me any," Harry told her.

Her eyes narrowed. Two stores down was a shop with clothes for boys. She insisted he get a few shirts, some trousers, a pair of shorts and new trainers. Another hundred and twenty-eight quid later and Harry was starting to get worried about their dwindling money reserves. He would have to find a way to make it to Diagon Alley... if it was safe enough. Why was Gringotts the only bank for wizards?

In the train station, Harry tried to point out important words like 'Exit', 'Platform', 'Ticket', 'Washroom', etc.

By the time the train left, Naila was sitting against the window, watching the town pass by. Her eyes were wide to see the train pick up speed. Harry looked up and down the train car. Now that he was away from his relatives, there was a possibility the Death Eaters could be looking for him.

He had just started to really wonder what he had gotten Naila into when she asked, "What is bothering you, Harry?"

"I'm just worried about what might be looking for me. Naila, if we are found, I want you to take my bag and this," he told her. "You are to find your way to 12 Grimmauld Place, in London," he told her. Harry didn't realize he was able to give her the secret.

She frowned. "I am not leaving your, Harry Potter."

"Just in case, Naila. Please," he pleaded.

It took her a moment before she spoke. "What is this?" she asked.

"An invisibility cloak. No one will be able to find you while you put it over yourself. Please, just, if we are found, I need to know you are safe," he told her, knowing he would defend her if it came down to it, but the Department of Mysteries had taught him was how quickly things went bad.

Naila didn't look pleased. "My folk do not run from danger, and I will not either."

"Naila, you don't understand who is after me. We are trying to make it to a safe house, but if certain people know I am moving across the country like this, they may try to capture me. While I was with my relatives, I was told I was safe. Now that we aren't, we need to make it to London," he told her.

Naila reached out for his hand. "I will not run," she told him.

Harry huffed. "Fine. Take this then," he told her. He had seen she was definitely magical earlier and that she would not back down, but he felt apprehensive. The Death Eaters would not hesitate to kill her, especially if they found out she was not a human.

He fished for his knife and gave it to her. She took it, open the sheath and regarded the knife. It wasn't big, perhaps four inches long, but most wouldn't suspect it. "This is too small," she told him.

Harry chuckled. "I'll get you a bigger one or what ever you need later."

Naila nodded, jammed the knife into the sheath and Harry helped her put the sheath onto her forearm below the jumper she had on. It was a cool day for the end of July. They passed through a heavy fog bank that was really dark. It got colder and Harry was immediately alert when it felt like there was no happiness. His head looked out of the window and the train quickly passed out of that particularly heavy fog bank.

Naila shivered. "What were those demons?" She was looking out the window too.

"Dementors," Harry told her. "My godfather said that Voldemort used them last time and they all abandoned Azkaban when he attacked it last year. I hope that wasn't an attack," Harry told her, looking back to the dense fog bank before the train took a curve.

"We heard rumors of a great strife," Naila told him.

Harry sat back down, letting her have the window again. The train stopped in the next town and more people got on. About an hour into the ride they had to transfer at Par. Then it was to be over four hours to get into London. About thirty minutes outside Par, Naila put her head on his shoulder. Harry put his arm up and soon her head was on his chest.

He watched the country slide by. About every ten to twenty minutes they pulled into another station, people getting on and off. Harry watched them all as her breath became more measured. After a few stops, he was positive she was asleep. It felt rather nice that she was against him like this. His head drifted down to rest on the top of her head as he looked out the window.

It was somewhere around it was somewhere around Newton Abbey, about two hour in, that his eyes drifted closed.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 3

July 31, 1996

Reading, England

Harry woke with a start, sweat on his forehead and Naila shaking him awake. Harry blinked a few times to get the sleep out of his eyes. "Harry, wake up," she said, shaking his shoulder and sounding a little worried.

He wiped his eyes. "What happened?"

"You were muttering and turning in your sleep. Others are looking," she said.

Harry looked and saw the dozen or so other people in their car looking at him. He felt how slick his hands were. Something didn't feel right. As the train started to slow, Harry had a really bad feeling.

"Naila, I think we should go," Harry said, grabbing his bag. Looking at his watch, he had maybe been out for an hour.

She didn't argue, taking his hand as he led then towards the front.

"Reading Station," the intercom called out.

It was not were he wanted to get out, but it was closer to London. They could probably catch another train or a bus. Harry waited in the space between the cars, scanning the platform as they came to a stop. The only thing he was thankful for was that the men on the platform were where black robes and looked to mean business. Harry thought he recognized Crabbe Senior.

"Bloody hell," he murmured.

"Who are those men?" Naila asked.

Harry looked around. "Death Eaters. They are heading towards the back. Let's go," Harry told her. Somehow they found out where he was or were just looking at every incoming train, probably figuring out they had only a few ways to go and London would be one of his prime destinations.

Harry had a fleeting though of how they found out, but the feeling of anger and then elation from his dreams had his know Voldemort knew. Naila let go of his hand to reach for the knife. Harry grabbed her hand. "Only if we need to," he told her.

They had to maintain as low of a profile as they could and pulling a knife in the middle of a train would draw a lot of attention they didn't want.

"But they threaten us, don't they?" she asked.

"Yes. But it is better not to fight. There are six of them," Harry told her.

They joined the queue waiting to go out the front door. When the train stopped, eight others got out. Harry took her hand and fell in besides a man and a woman, trying to act like he was an older child.

Naila let out a little growl. "Why do we not fight?"

The couple next to them gave them a look. Harry gave them a small smile. "You know I hate fighting, luv. It's just easier to give you what you want."

The man gave him a knowing look, while the woman didn't look impressed. Naila just looked confused. If it wasn't such a dangerous situation, Harry would have laughed to relieve the stress.

Harry looked back. Four of the Death Eaters had gotten on the train. The other two were trying to scan the few dozen people that got off. Harry saw a sign to some busses. Harry pulled her up to the walkway. He wanted to run, but knew that would pull attention.

"Why are we not fighting them?" she questioned.

"There are six of them and two of us. I know one of them was Crabbe Senior. He is one of Voldemorts inner circle. I know if they find me, there will be a lot more. That, and the fact that I don't want anyone to get hurt that isn't involved," he told her.

Naila didn't looked pleased, but went along with him. "Who is Voldemort?"

"A really bad guy," Harry told her, looking over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed. He wanted to put the invisibility cloak over them, but there were too many people around. They were able to make it past the platforms. Three Death Eaters were looking around to see what other trains would be coming from the west. He could only assume the other three stayed on the train or were on their tail.

Harry rushed them over to a bus stop where others were gathering. Seeing a free stop along a wall, he pulled her over to lean against it. "How bad?" Naila asked when they stopped.

"Really bad. He will try to kill me and anyone with me. Those people are called Death Eaters. They are just as bad. They will try to kill both of us, but probably after they, ah, do things," Harry told her. "They like using the cruciatus curse. Naila, if they know who you are, they will kill you outright."

Naila looked a little frightened now. She took in a deep breath before taking on a resolve. "I will not go out running," she told him.

"I am not to go out at all," he said back with the same firery attitude. They stared each other down for a moment until a city bus pulled up. Harry was going to go for it until he saw two men in black cloaks walk around the side of the building.

"Damn it," he muttered. Naila reached for the knife again.

"Naila, if you do that here, all these other people may get hurt," Harry said in a hushed tone.

She looked around, seeing the people and even a few kids. This seemed to cool her fire and she took his hand as they walked away. They were just going to walk past an alley when Harry caught movement. He yanked on Naila's arm, causing her to squeak and stumbled forward just as a red spell shot past her.

Harry drew his wand as he yelled, "Run!"

Naila drew the knife and a ball of blue magic formed in her hand. Harry put a hand over it as he cast a shield charm and then an invisible barrier charm over the alley that Hermione had found last year. He felt a little satidfaction as a nasty looking purple spell splashed off his shield, which was followed by a sickening crunch as one of the Death Eaters ran into the barrier. He just saw the man crumbling to the ground before screams sprang up everywhere.

People were scrambling as the two by the bus stop had pulled their wands and started to cast spells. Harry recognized a few of them, then the sickly green tell of a killing curse.

Harry pulled Naila along, who protested and pulled her hand loose. "NAILA!" Harry yelled, only to have his eyes go wide. Out of the cloudy sky, a huge lightening bolt struck out. It hit one of the Death Eaters. Harry had to sheild his eyes. When he looked, there was a smoking husk on the ground. The Death Eater next to him looked stunned.

"FINITE INCANTATUM!" a man yelled from the alley.

"We have to go," Harry told her.

Naila was swaying a little. "I've never called lightening before," she told him. Harry grabbed her hand and she just about fell as her legs woobled. Harry grabbed her around the waist, casting another, "Protego!" as a man ran out of the alley.

Naila was leaning heavily into him, and Harry couldn't get her out of there as the man launched a deadly salvo of cutting, blasting and killing curses. Harry was forced to let her go, cast another sheild and then deflect a blasting curse into the building besides them before he was moving his wand.

After what had happened at the Department of Mysteries, Harry was determined not to let anyone else get hurt or killed. He snapped out the spells as fast as he could. "Bombarda! Deprimo! Deprimo! Bombarda! Deprimo!"

The man, acting as though he hadn't expected Harry to fight back, was suddenly back stepping and either shielding or deflecting his spells as fast as Harry was throwing them. People were still running away and Harry knew the Aurors would be here shortly. He didn't want to get caught by them.

The other Death Eater started towards them now, green killing curses fly at random. Harry swept his wand up. "Turres!" he shouted and a wall shot out of the sidewalk. The curses hit the wall. Harry didn't wait. He grabbed Naila's arm from where she had slumpt onto her knees and pulled her up.

Harry set as fast a pace as he could. They just cleared the area when there were pops of apparition behind them.

Harry ducked into an alley. "Naila! Did you get hit?"

She looked up at him, here eyes looking tired. "I have never called on lightening before. I feel like a nap."

He let out a small chuckle, even though it wasn't funny.

"Can you walk? We will find somewhere for you to take a nap," he told her.

Harry heard running steps and he pulled out his invisibility cloak, pulling Naila close and drapping it over them. He saw two men in burgundy robes run past, and then he heard them stop. "Wait, Collins."

"What is it now? I want to find the two that caused this," the other man, Collins, said.

One of the Aurors stepped back into the front of the alley way. "I thought I saw something."

Harry put a finger to his mouth to keep her quiet. Naila seemed to sense that they were in danger this time and wrapped her arms around his waist. The man stepped into the alley, the other coming up behind him.

There was a wand movement he didn't recognize, and a light blue line of magic ran down the alley. It washed right over them with not effect. "Hmm. I could have sworn," the man said.

"You've wasted too much time. There is no way we will find those teen. What was the signature we are looking for again?"

The first man took a paper out of his pants. "We were originally looking for a Colin Creevey, but I don't think he did all that back there," the man said.

Harry felt his heart thump in his chest. He needed to know about Colin.

Colins too a round piece of metal out of his pocket. "They found Creevey and two others," the man said, cocking his head to read whatever was on the coin. "Lets head back. It was probably just some muggles that the obliviators can track down."

"Yeah, sure," the first man said, still staring down the alley as Collins walked away.

"Come on, Pickles," Collins called.

Harry let out a long breath after a few minutes. Naila was using him to keep herself up.

"Let's get out here," Harry told her. He took his cloak off, knowing they would need to move and figuring the Aurors would keep Death Eaters away. They walked out, and stared to head away from the station when someone stepped out of a shadow, a wand raised.

Harry brought his wand up and they were both staring down each other's wands. "Wotcher, Harry."

Harry blinked for a moment, looking at the woman very cautiously. "What face did Hermione ask you for at Chirstmas?"

"Hermione liked the duck bill, Ginny prefered the pig snout and you liked the ant eater," she told him. "What did Sirius tell you just before you left at Christmas?"

Harry's face hardened. "Cause some trouble and bed some birds," Harry told her.

"Who's the bird?"

Naila straightened. "I am Naila Potter."

Tonks brow rose. "Right. You can call me Tonks. We need to get you back to Hogwarts," she told him.

"What about Headuarters?" he asked, not wanting to go there right now. Not that Grimmauld Place was much better, but it was away from the headmaster.

"Can't. It's closed off. Dumbledore had says we need to wait for you to let us back in," she told him. Harry hadn't missed that neither of them had dropped their wands.

"How did you find me so fast?" Harry asked.

"Snape heard word that the Head Wanker sent out a bunch of people to look for you once they found the wards around your house fell. I didn't get here before the others. I only caught the end and couldn't risk getting caught by the Aurors. We can't stay here. Are you going to drop your wand?" she questioned.

"Only if we go to Grimmauld Place first," Harry told her.

She snorted and finally lowered her wand. Taking a rope out of her pocket, she threw it on the ground. "I didn't think you would listen to what Sirius told us last. Come on, Potters, you can tell me what is going on once we get there," she told him.

Harry nodded at the rope. "Portkey?"

"To Hogwarts, yeah," she said, moving in and grabbing both their arms and twisting before either could protest. When they came back into existence, Naila made a hissing noise and lunged for Tonks. Harry had to grab her hand and tackle the knife out of her hand. "Naila, it was just apparition. We are fine," he told her her, having her eyes meet him.

She had a not pleasant look on her face. "That was evil," she told him, shaking as though a chill passed through her.

Tonks looked at them curiously. "Lovers' spat?"

Harry looked to Tonks. "Not here. Naila, we are safe. If I give this back to you will you not attack Tonks?"

She glared at him for moment before nodding.

Harry gave her the knife back and she slipped it up her sleeve.

"Feisty one?" Tonks asked, looking amused.

"Something like that." He looked around. "This isn't Grimmauld."

"We're two blocks north. I'm not sure if anyone is watching the house. I wouldn't be surprised. What happened back at the station?" she asked, looking up and down the street as they walked out between two rows of townhouses.

"They were waiting on the platform. I tried to get us to the bus and we would have made it if they were like two minutes slower," Harry told her. Naila had his left hand in hers. It helped to calm him.

Tonks didn't say a word as they made it close to the park and Grimmauld Lane. They walked to the edge of the building that allowed them to see most of the square and the four townhouse blocks surrounding it. Tonks flicked, swished and poked her wand out a few times.

"I think it's safe," she told them.

They made it to the steps and Harry put a hand on the door. It shown a faint blue, then the door clicked open. He opened it. Naila and Tonks passed him. Just as he went to close the door, he heard the tell tail sounds of Tonks being tripped by the troll leg.

He slammed the door closed, waiting for the melodious screams of Mrs. Black, but they didn't come. "Merlin! Sirius! You told me that you got rid of that thing," she yelled.

Harry smirked. It didn't last long. "Did that come out and kick you?" Naila asked, looking rather dubiously at the grey leg that had spilled an assortment of umbrellas and canes all over the floor and was not entangled in Tonks legs.

Tonks gave her a triumphant look. "I knew it! It's not just me!"

Harry chuckled. "It sounds like the old mutt."

Tonks made a face before getting herself out. As she did, Harry looked up to the wall where Walburga Black was... and saw a hole. The wall had been taken off down to the studs that were attached to the brick wall.

"What happened to the old hag?" Harry asked.

"No clue. It was here the last time I was here, but that was about two weeks before, you know," she said.

Naila moved a little closer to him. "This place has a sad feeling."

Harry nodded. He frowned now that he was back here. "Where is the traitor Kreacher?"

He stuck his wand up, looking around.

Tonks looked around too. After a moment, nothing happened. "Kreacher!" she called out.

When nothing happened, Harry wasn't sure what that meant. "Tonks, are you a Black again?"

"Yeah. In Sirius will he left you just about everything and reinstated my mum, meaning I am a Black by blood," Tonks replied.

"What are you talking about?" Naila asked.

"Just a moment," Tonks told her. "Kreacher!"

Harry and her shared a look. Harry wanted to strangle the little shite. Tonks didn't look much different, but she was starting to look worried. "Tonks, why isn't he coming?"

"I don't know. You try calling him."

Harry made a face. "Kreacher!"

When nothing happened, Tonks frowned. "The house wouldn't have let you in if you were not the true Black heir. Sirius disowned Bellatrix and Narsissa in his will. The little cretin should come to our call."

"What are you talking about? What is kreacher?" Naila asked, not wanting to be ignored.

"Kreacher is the house elf that lives in this house. Kreacher!" Harry called again.

"Maybe we should go check his den?" Tonks offered.

Harry nodded and when they walked into the kitchen, Harry's eyes widened. It looked like a bomb had gone off, literally. Parts of the long table were in splinters. Most of the shelves and chinaware on them were burnt and in peices. The stove looked like a boulder had been thrown into it. The fireplace was scorched and cracked.

"What the bloody hell?" Harry asked.

"Sirius said he had issues with Kreacher that night," Tonks said.

Naila crinkled her nose at the smell. It was a mixture of stale smoke and something rotting. Tonks had her wand out as she walked further into the kitchen. "You two cover me," she told him.

Harry just raised his wand, not having put it away yet. Naila looked around. A moment later, Tonks crinckled her nose. "I found Kreacher."

"At least Sirius got rid of the little cockroach," Harry said.

"Yeah, but the kitchen is destroyed. With that being an old floo connection, if I just repair it, it will loose its connection, and I doubt you want the Ministry in here to put it back on," Tonks said, conjouring a white sheet and putting it over the scourched body that Harry saw coming more into the kitchen. Naila was walking next to him.

"I have enough for carry out for a little bit," Harry told her. "I need to get to Gringotts."

"I don't think that is going to happen. Let's get upstairs and I'll clean up what I can in here later," Tonks told them.

"I don't understand. I thought elfs were kind and was an apprentice to the wizard? Was the man who did this not his wizard?" Naila asked, looking at the sheet.

Tonks looked at Naila. "Since when is a house elf an apprentice? Harry, where did you get her? And why did you say she was a Potter earlier?"

Naila looked at them both a little confused. "It is the way. The merrow know that wizards do not always like those of us not blessed by Nimeu, but that is why they apprentice. To learn the great goddesses ways."

Tonks looked confused. "Nimue?"

"Long story," Harry told her. "Naila, maybe that was how it was once, but now the house elves are bound to serve a wizard or family. The way my friend Dobby describes it is that a house elf depends on the magic of their family or who they serve. It is a symbiotic relationship where the elf pays for the magic is takes from its master with servitude."

Naila looked horrified. "That... that... that is not right. The old convenants say that a wizard is to apprentice anyone of the lesser power to elevate them."

Tonks gave him a questioning look.

Harry took Naila's hand. "Naila, I don't think things work quite the way your people think anymore," Harry said softly.

Her beautiful features were marred with her frown.

"Right, I'd offer some tea or something, but we really need to talk," Tonks told them. "Let's go up to the sitting room."

Harry nodded.

When they sat in the old moth eaten furniture in the sitting room, Tonks gave them a look. Harry spoke first, "Tonks, what's been going on the last month?"

"I was about to ask you the same. Before I get into all that, Naila, who are you?" Tonks put to Naila.

Naila, still looking tired, sat up tall. "I am Naila Potter, daughter of Esemel and Iawa. Life-Mate of Harry Potter," she stated.

Tonks looked at her. "Is this girl for real? She sounds like and old clans girl. I only know of few of them and they live in Scotland or Ireland," Tonks questioned.

"I am of the merrow. My clan claims the ocean from the lands end to the far shelf," Naila said.

Tonks' eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. The room was silent for a moment as the metaphorphs hair cycled a few colours. "Bloody hell," Tonks said after a moment. She looked to him and then Naila. "Bloody hell. You two are, ah, what did you say? Life-mates?"

"I am pretty sure it means we are married. Naila says that Jupiter agrees and Nimue has blessed us," Harry said, taking Naila's hand.

"Oh, bloody hell!" Tonks swore again. "Right," she said. "So, Mrs. Potter?"

"Yes," Harry told her.

"What is misses?" Naila enquired.

"It means you are my wife. My life-mate," Harry told her. Naila smiled.

"Should I ask how?" Tonks asked, a slight smirk coming onto her face.

"Harry turned two-hundred and fourteen moons. By day is tomorrow. It is my people's tradition to celebrate and mate for the first time," she told Tonks.

Harry felt his face heat up at the raised brow. "Really?"

"Yes," Harry said in a tone he hoped would stop what ever she was going to say next.

"So, you finally decided to notice the other sex? Sirius was starting to get worried," she told him.

Harry's ace burned. "It's not like I've had a lot of time to be a normal teen," Harry told her.

She wagged her eyebrow. "Good for you two, though, most don't get married after the first mating," she said, a laugh on her voice.

"The power of the earth and oceans chose to honour the champion of Nimeu and I am pleased to be his," Naila said. "They passed their powers in our first mating."

"I bet," Tonks said suggestively. Naila was too straight forward to get it, but Harry wanted to change the subject.

"Tonks, what else is going on? You said Snape warned you that Voldemort and his lackey's would be after me? How did they know I would be coming by train?" Harry asked.

Tonks grew more serious. "Well, Dumbledore is not pleased you left Privet Drive. We had no clue where you went," she told him.

"It wasn't a secret. When Moody visited he was the one work out the deal, telling them that I had to stay with them," Harry replied.

"Who is Moody?" Naila asked.

"A completely mad ex-Auror, but a good man. He told us he had visited, like Dumbledore wanted, but he didn't tell us that you would be on holiday. Where were you?" Tonks pressed.

Harry made an aggravated sound. "I don't care what Dumbledore wanted. Moody said if they wanted to stay safe, then I had to stay with them all summer and that no one would try to contact us all summer. It wasn't safe enough," Harry said bitterly.

Naila reached for his hand. "Who is Dumbledore? You do not sound like you like him."

Harry pursed his lips. Tonks replied, "He's the headmaster of Hogwarts and the leader of the Order of the Pheonix. Listen, Harry, not all of us are completely with Dumbledore. A few of us have been fighting him on this, but he had Fletcher, Diggle and Jones keeping an eye on the Muggle mail and owls. Moody, Remus and I have been the most vocal." She let out a long breath. "Moody must have wanted to give you a break."

"Tonks, why are you not completely with Dumbledore?" Harry asked cautiously.

"It all started with Sirius. He was starting to suspect something with Dumbledore, and when you were sent away by him right after Sirius death with none of us able to contact you, let's say it caused a rift. It got worse when Dumbledore tried to claim he was your guardian and regent at the will reading. My mum has been given regency of the Blacks, and thus has claim of guardianship over you. Dumbledore isn't happy," she told him.

"When did this happen? Sirius told me I was supposed to be at the reading," Harry gripped.

"Harry, can you please explain what is going on?" Naila asked.

"Does Naila know any of this?" Tonks asked.

"Well, not really," Harry told her. "She knows about Sirius, but that's about it. Naila, I promise to answer all your questions. For now, the men that attached us are trying to kill me, like I said. They work for a monster called Voldemort. Headmaster Dumbledore is the only person he fears..."

"Besides you," Tonks said, giving a cheeky grin when he glared at her.

"Headmaster Dumbledore is the only one he fears and leads a group called the Order of the Pheonix to fight him, though they seem to guard me and others more than fight," Harry mumbled. "My godfather was getting weary of Dumbledore, even last Christmas, and told me that he made me the heir to the House of Black. It's a powerful family in our world."

"LIke a clan?" she asked.

"We were at one time, from what mum says," Tonks interjected.

"Yes, like a clan," Harry said. Naila was not dumb, but she was naive to their world. That was one thing Harry was really starting to understand.

Nails nodded. "You are head of your clan? A chief?" he enquired.

Tonks chuckled. "Oh, mum is going love this."

Harry shrugged. "I guess. It known as being the head of house here."

She nodded. "I can see why Nimeu has claimed you her champion. You fought well and you are head of a powerful clan."

Tonks laughed at Harry's face. "Something like that."

"I like to think of myself as pretty powerful," Tonks said rather self-importantly.

"Shut it, you," Harry snarked.

Naila looked between them. "How does this Dumbledore help? Is he an ally?"

"You can say that," Tonks said.

"He's a burke," Harry stated.

Tonks shrugged. "What has your knickers all bunched up? I get that you and Sirius didn't like that he didn't push for a trial, but I sense it's more."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Tonks, did you ever do guard duty at the Dursleys?"

"No. I was supposed to this summer, but after our little spat with him, he didn't trust to put Moody, Remus or I there," she told him. "He's had us doing other jobs."

"Did he also tell you what you were guarding at the Ministry last year?"

At this, she frowned. "After talking with Ron, it was a prophesy."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. One about me and Voldemort. The whole reason I was sent to my relatives was because he wanted me to have a 'normal' childhood. He didn't tell me anything about it until just after the Ministry fight. He sent me back to them. I still see Sirius falling through the veil most nights and Dumbledore still won't tell me why I get these god awful visions. If I had known, Sirius would still be here," Harry said, trying to fight down his tears.

Tonks looked really worried. Naila moved a little closer. "Harry? You really haven't seen anyone or talked to anyone?"

Harry snorted. "You said yourself Dumbledore would let any letters in or out."

"That's not what I meant. Did Pomfrey look at you at all?"

"I was portkeyed to his office and then he side-a-long apparated me to my relatives after telling me about the prophesy and that was why Voldemort came for me. That was it," Harry said bitterly. All the pain and resentment he had stuffed down over the last five weeks came welling up. "Oh, also that it was his fault about the past year. The arse still wouldn't look me in the eyes. It was like he thought Voldemort was still possessing me."

Tonks' hair turned a firery red. "He what? WAIT! What do you mean he possessed you?"

"You didn't get that detail? At the end of the fight, Voldemort tried to possess me. It hurt. But something chaced him away, and since that night I keep getting these dreams like he is in agony most of the time, but they aren't like before. It's more like an afterthought than the visions I was getting," Harry told her.

Tonks just looked at him wide eyed.

"Is that why you were whimpering on the train?" Naila asked

Harry frowned. "I don't know. It was like and echo of Voldemort being angry. It's sort of fading over the last month."

"Harry, can I take my mum here? You really should be checked over. The Aurors require a physical after any major fight you are hurt in, and we never leave anyone alone or not send them to a mind Healer after something like that," Tonks told him.

Harry looked at her. "Who is your mum?"

"Andromeda Tonks. She was the sister to Bellatrix and Narcissa," Tonks informed him.

He thought about it for a moment. "If Sirius trusted her, I will. I'm not sure I want anyone else here though. Tonks, why didn't anyone know I was going to Newquay?"

"My guess is that the people Dumbledore had watching you are bloody morons," she told him.

"Then how did the Death Eaters know where I was," he asked.

"I don't know. I just got the call to go check the station. There were a few other teams Dumbledore sent out while he was dealing with Privet Drive," she told him.

"What happened at Privet Drive?"

"I don't know. I just know the wards failed this morning and then it was like a fox got in the hen house. Dumbledore called us all up to Hogwarts and then he went with six others to your house. I was sent to find where the trains were coming in and had just made it to Reading when you were attacked," she told him.

Naila's stomach grumbled. He looked at her and she said, "I am hungry."

"When was the last time you two ate?" Tonks asked.

"This morning," Harry told her. It was close to five now. Had it only been seven hours since they left Newquay?

"Let me get you two some take away, then I will get my mum, and then check in Moody. Will you allow him here?" she asked.

"I guess. You, Moody, Remus and your mum," he told her.

"What about my dad? He's a solisitor, but decent with his wand. He was going to be a dueler before mum became pregant," she informed him.

"No one else after that," Harry told her.

Tonks nodded and soon left.

Harry was looking at Naila. "You promised to answer all my questions. What is this prophesy that is about you?"

Harry sighed. It was going to be a long night to explain things to Naila.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 4

August 1, 1996

London, England

Harry woke with a warm mass on his side and light blonde hair in his mouth and over his eyes. He tried to get the hair out with is tongue, but that just made it worse.

Unlike yesterday morning, Naila was in a thin camisole and knickers, both from their small shopping trip. Harry was in his shorts and a tshirt. They had both been too tired to repeat what had gotten them into this mess. Naila had actually fallen asleep on him while Mrs. Tonks was checking him over.

None of the adults questioned them when Harry gently woke her and they went to his room in the old house. Harry hated the place, but he didn't have a better option at the moment.

Her easy breathing was rather soothing as the dawn light filtered around the curtains. If it wasn't for his bladder, which had awoken him, Harry would have stayed with her curled up against his side. It was something he found he liked quiet a bit.

With some reluctance, he took her hand off his chest and her slid his leg out from under hers.

Looking down at the blonde pixie that seemed more a warrior than anyone he had known, Harry wondered at how this had all happened in three days. He wasn't sure to thank or curse the gods for this. Because of him, she had been ripped away from her world. On the other hand, Harry was thankful. In the last twenty-four hours she had shown she would stand at his side and would be very loyal.

Reaching over, Harry pushed the hair out of her face. She looked so peaceful.

"I don't know why you think she needed me, but I promise to keep her safe," he said to no one in particular, unsure if he truly believed in the gods. He snorted. It would be his luck that if there were all power, omniscient beings that they would fuck with him.

Harry stepped out onto the landing after putting his new trousers on. He could hear voices coming from the sitting room a floor down. After releiving himself, he checked back into his room. Naila was still sleeping. After closing the door as quietly as he could, Harry went down the stairs.

The smell of tea and pastries met his nose and his stomach grumbled. Stepping into the room, the conversation stopped. A small breakfast table had been put into the room with five chairs around it. Mrs. Tonks was sitting with a tea cup in her hands and Mr. Tonks sitting next to her. Mrs. Tonks had the features of Narcissa Malfoy: high cheek bones, calculating grey eyes, a healthy figure for her age, but with shoulder length brown hair. Her husband was a slightly shorter, with a balding head of sandy coloured hair, a rounder face and lines that looked like he smiled and laughed often. "Good morning, Harry," Mrs. Tonks greeting him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Uhm, yeah," he said, not often used to adults asking how he ws doing and looking like they wanted a response.

"Good. Care to join us? Alastor said he would be by later today. Nymphadora has duty today," she informed him.

Harry sat, saying nothing. Mr. Tonks pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet and began reading. Mrs. Tonks was looking at him as though waiting for him to say something. Instead, he poured himself some tea then lifted the lid of the paper box on the table. "Until we get the kitchen repaired, I thought some easy to eat food would be best."

Harry nodded, taking some flaky looking thing that had some type of fruit in it.

They waited until it looked like he was done before Mrs. Tonks said, "I know we didn't really get to talk last night, but I am sure you have some questions and I have some of my own. Ted would also like to go over Sirius will and what you want to do for the rest of the summer."

"I am not going to back to the Dursleys," he told them.

"No. You will never be going back there. Though, there isn't much to go back to. Nymphadora was able to meet with the Order last night. the Death Eaters burned your relatives house down before they went looking for you," she informed him.

Harry's heart skipped a beat. "What about Hedwig? And all my Hogwarts stuff?"

"Apparently your trunk resistant to fire and survived. Though nothing else did," she told him.

Harry slumped into his chair. That meant most of what he owned was safe. There was a small pang in his heart to know that a few others things, like his first snitch, or some pictures that Colin had given him end of third year, had been burnt up under his his hidden floor board.

"It was just a good think they didn't use fiendfyre. Half the neighborhood would have gone up," Mr. Tonks said. "The Daily Prophet is reporting on the fight you got into yesterday. They are saying that the Aurors are looking for two teens that were believed to be involved. One had a head of messy black hair and the other blonde. Not much else for a description."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"Antonin Dolohov was killed. Two other Death Eaters were captured. A few Muggles had to be treated, but they were released last night. Dora always said trouble followed you. I am guessing they weren't all tall tales?" the man asked, looking over the paper.

Harry looked at his half-empty tea cup. "I didn't want anyone to get hurt," he said rather marosely.

A stumbling crash echoed in the hallway. Harry was up, his wand out and figure to his glasses as they threatened to slide off. "Harry!" Naila said, coming to the door. She was still in only the camisole and knickers. If he wasn't so jumped on adrenaline he would have noticed how sexy she looked.

"Naila! What's wrong?"

She looked at him for a moment, a look of panic on her face, before seeing he was alright. "You left. I didn't know where you were," she told him.

Harry slump his shoulders. "I didn't want to wake you," he told her. She came over and wrapped her arms around his middle. Harry wrapped his over her shoulders. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I thought you left me," she told him.

Harry shook hi head. "I wouldn't."

The adults looked on, one amused, the other concerned. Mrs. Tonks cleared her throat. "Naila, you may want to go get more clothes on."

Naila pulled back a little, looking down at what she was wearing. This time Harry noticed now low the camisole dipped, her nipples and the mound in her knickers. His beating heart became less about fighting and more about...

"What is wrong with my clothes?" she asked.

Mr. Tonks chuckled and got a look from his wife. "Nothing, dear. It is more traditional to wear what you are under other clothes."

Naila looked to Harry. "You will not leave?"

"I promise," Harry told her.

Her eyes searched his before reluctantly letting him go and heading out of the room. Harry followed her bottom before sitting again. Mr. Tonks was still chuckling. "She wears more than Dora does most of the time when she stays over."

"It is not appropriate for our twenty-two year old daughter, never mind a sixteen-year-old girl," she responded.

Mr. Tonks made a non-commital jerk to his head.

"Now, Harry, I didn't want to bother you with this last night, but I need to know. Nymphadora told us everything you told her last night. Is Naila really a merrow girl?" Mrs. Tonks asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Harry replied.

"Mrs. Tonks or Andromeda, none of this ma'am stuff. Now, this is very important. Are you and Naila magically bound?"

He looked at her for a moment. "She had says Jupiter and Nimeu has gifted her to me. The other night, ah, when this all happened, there was this, ah, surge of magic. We both passed out from it."

"And what were you doing when you experienced this surge of magic?" she put to him. The look she gave him led him to beleive lying to her would not have good consequences.

"Uhm, Naila said it was a tradition of her people. When someone turns sixteen... it... ah..." For Merlins sake! Was he a Griffindor or not? "She said that it was tradition for a persons first mating to happen when they turn sixteen."

Mr. Tonks looked like he was trying to keep his laugh in while Mrs. Tonks looked at suspiciously. "And did she tell you that that would form a marriage bond?"

"We haven't had alot of time to really talk about it, but I don't think that was what she wanted. Naila just wanted a choice." He met Mrs. Tonks eyes. "I did too," he said in a small voice.

Her eyes softened. "Thank you for being honest. Ted received some letters from the Ministry yesterday."

The man nodded, putting his paper down, then reached for a satchel. "Harry, did you know that Sirius Black was going to make you his heir?"

"We talk about it last Christmas. He has a second will in the safe in the study in case there was an issue," Harry told them, trying not to let his feeling about Sirius choke him up.

"So my cousin could be responsible," Mrs. Tonks said with a small smile.

Naila came back in. Harry got up to move a chair net to him and she sat. When he sat back down, Mr. Tonks put four letters on the table. "Help yourself, dear. There is tea, or I think you also got some juice, Ted?"

"Yes, I have some apple and a lemonade," he said, reaching back over the side of the table.

"Why did you get my mail?" Harry asked as he looked at the letters. There was one from Hogwarts, two from the Ministry and one from the Gringotts. The ones from the Ministry and Gringotts were already open.

"Harry, please excuse me for opening the letters, but when Dumbledore told us you were missing, I had to make sure there was nothing bad in the letters," Mr. Tonks said.

"Is this because you are the Regent of House Black?" Harry asked, taking the note out of the first Ministry envelope.

"Harry, Sirius made me regent of the Blacks and the Potters in his will. He also passed guardianship to me," Mrs. Tonks replied.

"What does it say?" Naila said while sipping on the lemonade, as though unsure if she liked it.

"It's a marriage license," he said.

"The cover letter said that your status was updated in the Hall of Records and that you will have to go in and pay the ten galleons for the filing in the next two weeks. I can take care of that for you," Mr. Tonks offered.

"Thank you," Harry said.

Naila leaned over and Harry put his finger to the paper. "This is how you spell your name. N. A. I. L. A."

She stared at the paper for a moment. "What is that?"

"Potter. P. O. T. T. E. R. It's our surname," Harry explained.

"Naila, do you not know how to read?" Mrs. Tonks queried.

"I know the language in my village and a few others. These runes are very different," she said, her finger running over the words. "What is that?"

"The signature of the clerk," Harry told her.

"Where is your name?"

He pointed it out. After a few minutes, he opened the other letter. This was one he was expecting, but not what it was for. "Mr. Tonks, this is a letter for performing underage magic at my relatives house. We were miles away from there at that time," Harry told him.

"That was sent out before the Aurors went out. I'm told that will be cleared up today," he assured Harry.

"Nothing about what I did in Reading yesterday afternoon?"

"Nothing that has gone to my law offices. Are you willing to talk to the Aurors about what happened yesterday? There is a five-hundred galleon reward for information," Mr. Tonks told him.

"And give Fudge a reason to arrest me?" Harry said sarcastically. "I think I will pass."

"Fudge is out. He lost a no confidence vote last week," Mrs. Tonks told him. "Harry, haven't you been getting any news?"

"How? I don't trust the Prophet. All they ever do is drag my name through the mud, and no one has talked to me since I was sent to my relatives," he retorted.

Mrs. Tonks looked less than please. "You know that the Prophet has been saying you were right for the last month? They also had a picture of You-Know-Who in the main atrium of the Ministry. The rag is not saying you are the Prophesized One."

"Are you ruddy serious?" he asked incredulously.

"Nimeu has marked you her champion," Naila said, lifting the lid of the paper box like it was going to bite her.

Harry gave a nervous laugh. "Right."

"This is just mental," Harry griped.

"Perhaps, but it can't be denied that you and five other students are being credited with the death of two marked Death Eaters, the probable permanant hospitalization of another and eight others into DMLE custody. I just hope Bones has learned her lesson and doesn't send them back to Azkaban," Mrs. Tonks told him.

Harry's eyes were wide. "Killed?"

"Yes. Thomas Mulciber and Terrance Wilkins. The Unspeakables and Healers can't reverse the damage to Rabastan Lestrange," she told him, gaging his reaction.

Harry wasn't sure how he felt. The one he wanted dead escaped. In a way, he wanted them all dead. Hermione and Ron had almost died. Luna and Neville had been hurt bad. Some how only Ginny and him had escapes with only minor scratched and bruises... though there were probably scars that no one could see.

"Did... did anyone else die besides Sirius?" Harry had to know.

"Hestia Jones."

Harry nodded. He knew the name and could put a face to her from the Order meetings, but that was it.

Naila kissed his cheek. "A brave warrior remembers the fallen, but moves on to defend the living," she said gently. Harry hadn't realized he was blinking away tears.

After a moment, he nodded. "Right. So, the Daily Prophet has retracted everything it said about me last year?"

Mr. Tonks frowned. "No. They have just changed their tune. There is a vote next week to decide on the new Minister. Amelia Bones is the sitting Minister right now, and the one favored to get the nod."

"Is she any good?" Harry asked. "I've only ever seen her once and she was the only voice of reason at my trial last year."

"What is minister?" Naila asked.

"The Minister is the head of our government, like a chief that would look over many other chiefs," Harry tried to explain.

Naila nodded. "There has not been a high chief for many years."

"We will try to keep in mind you don't know about some of this," Mrs. Tonks said. Harry gave her an appreciative smile. He doubted many others would be as kind, which had him worrying a little bit about when they went back to school, because Naila would be coming with him.

"To answer you, Harry, Amelia Bones is a good person. She tries to enforce the law as best she can, but has had her hands tied many times by Fudge. Now that he is out, she has been pushing for changes, but I fear it may be too little too late," Mrs. Tonks answered.

"I'm afraid I have to agree," her husband said.

Harry nodded. Harry suddenly cocked his head, feeling something strange pull at him. Mrs. Tonks looked towards the window. "You felt that too?"

"What was it?" Harry questioned.

"It was a pull on deep magic," Naila answered, looking towards the window as well.

"I wasn't sure you would feel that, Naila. I would like to talk with you later about your magic," Mrs. Tonks said. "Harry, that is someone pushing on the wards. It's like a knock on the door.

Harry looked out the window. "Is it who I think it is?"

"If you are thinking of Albus Dumbledore, it is a good bet. Nymphadora said she had to report back into him last night," Mrs. Tonks said, getting to look out the window.

"Bril," Harry said in a false happiness.

Harry got up and Naila followed him. He wanted her to stay, but knew she wouldn't. The last twenty-four hours had proven that.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Tonks enquired.

"To meet him at the door. I don't want him to come in," Harry told them.

"I will come with you," Mrs. Tonks said.

The three of them went down the stairs. "Let me talk with him first," Mrs. Tonks told him.

"I should be the one," Harry argued.

"Harry, I am the regent of your Houses and your guardian. It is my right to represent you, and Naila as well. She is the lady of both Houses," Mrs. Tonks told him.

Harry pursed his lips while Naila took his hand when they all lined up behind the door. There was another push on his magic that he didn't like. Naila snarled.

Mrs. Tonks opened the door to find Albus Dumbledore, Tonks and a tall man with short black hair he didn't recognize.

"Ah, good morning, Andromeda," Dumbledore greeted.

"That's Regent Black, headmaster, when you are talking on my wards doorstep," she told him in a cool voice.

"I thought we had gotten past that. Would you invite us in so that I may talk with Harry?" the man asked.

"The scion of this house is only allowing family, Mr. Lupin and Mr. Moody in right now," she replied.

Dumbledore looked past her to him. "Harry, this is not a conversation to have out here in the open," the man told him.

Mrs. Tonks glared at the man. "You will talk to me, headmaster. I am his gaurdian and regent and will carry out his wishes."

"Does this really have to be done this way?" Dumbledore asked, his more congenial smile dropping. "There really is some serious business to discuss."

"If you want to discuss anything, I will arrange for us to meet on nuetral ground either later today or tomorrow. Heir Potter has expressed and interest to go to Gringotts. I will request if the goblins will mediate such a discussion," she told him.

The headmaster pursed his lips, a real power coming up in his blue eyes. Harry felt himself react to hit, the anger at the man flaring. As though listening to his need, something pressed the headmaster back away from the foot of the steps. The man took a stumbling step before straightening, an darkly calculating look on his face.

"Was that necessary?" Dumbledore asked Mrs. Tonks.

"That was not me. I am not the owner of this house. I would suggest that you maintain control of your magic for the future if you do not wish my ward to react again," she said in the same cold voice.

Naila went to step towards the man and Harry held her hand tight.

Dumbledore's eyes finally lit on her. Harry saw him take her in and his eyes looked to be deciding something. "If it is only family, who is this girl?"

"Family," Mrs. Tonks responded.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. "I do not remember you having a second daughter."

"I do not," she stated simply.

Dumbledore's face went completely emotionless. "Who is she? I really do not think is safe for Harry to have strange people around."

"She is not strange..." Harry started before Mrs. Tonks put a hand on his arm.

"I do not see this being any of our business at the moment, headmaster. When we are ready, you will know who this girl is," she said rather imperiously. "Now, if you excuse us, I have a missive to get off to Gringotts."

The man didn't look pleased. "Gringotts is not the place to have this conversation. I really must talk to Harry and it really must be in private."

"You will not talk without me," Naila said.

"Let me handle this," Mrs. Tonks told his wife. "A agree. Harry is not to have any private conversations with anyone for right now. Myself, my husband, my daughter or this girl will accompany Harry for ay conversation outside of this house."

The man stared at Mrs. Tonks. "How did you break the fidelius?"

"I did not. Heir Black owns this house and invited us in. The Blacks' magic is quite powerful and will superceded any other cast on this place," Mrs. Tonks informed the headmaster.

The man sighed. "I really wished you had let me explain to Harry everything Sirius has left him."

"Sirius explained everything to me last Christmas," Harry spoke up.

There was a flash of annoyance over Dumbledore's face. "I see. I will look forward to your missive then."

"I will pass the message through Nymphadora," she told him. Tonks had a slight annoyed look at her mother. "Though, I thought she was on duty with the Aurors today."

Dumbledore looked to her. "Amelia has let me use her and Shacklebolt today while I look for the Dursley's. It is a matter of some importance."

"The Ocean View Hotel, Rooms 213 and 214 in Newquay," Harry spoke up. He looked at his watch. It was just past nine. "You should find Dudley on the beach getting surfing lessons."

Dumbledore looked even less pleased. "What were you doing out in Newquay?"

"I don't see that being any of your business, headmaster. Then again, if you had told me where my ward was, I probably could have told you those details yesterday when you asked." Mrs. Tonks was standing very rigid and Harry had the feeling she was tamping her anger down.

"You know my reasoning," the man replied.

"I know your games. Now, have a good day. Nymphadora, please stop by around lunch. I should know by then," Mrs. Tonks said.

"Sure, mum," Tonks replied.

Before anyone could say anything else, Mrs. Tonks shut the door. She turned to look at them, her mask falling and the anger clearly on her face. "That arrogant, pompous windbag," she snapped. "You two are to stay in this house. Do yo uunderstand? You are only to leave if me or Ted are to go with you. I don't Dumbledore and I don't trust that Death Eaters didn't just see that interaction."

Naila looked like she wanted to reach for the knife she had put on her arm. "I do not like that man. It felt funny when he looked at me."

Mrs. Tonks pursed her lips. "He is supposed to be a master legilimens. Have either of you been trained in occlumency?"

Harry scowled. "Snape tried, but it felt more like he was raping my mind."

She looked even less pleased. "That does not sound like a proper lesson. We will talk later. For now, I must get a message to Gringotts. We have to go there anyways to finish the paperwork on your inheritance and to ensure Naila is properly recognized. For now, go finish breakfast and relax."

"Have you seen a white owl?" Harry asked her.

"There is one in the owelry on the roof. She showed up last night. A few fingers were singed, but she was in overall good health," Mrs. Tonks said. "I would ask to borrow her once I have my letter done."

Harry felt a huge wave of relief. "Oh, thank god. Of course you can use her if she agreed. I am going to head up to the roof then," Harry told her.

"The owl is important?" Naila questioned.

"Hedwig is my familiar. I think her rather important," he told her, pulling her up the stairs.

-oOo-

Later that day...

London, England

Harry was impressed with Naila. She handling things very well with everything being thrown at her.

Mrs. Tonks had received special permission for them to have a portkey into Diagon Alley, just outside of Gringotts. It was a priveledge afforded them through treaty to issue special portkeys. It dropped them about fifteen feet from the edge of the steps in an alcove Harry didn't remember seeing before.

Mr. and Mrs. Tonks, Tonks and Naila were with him. She didn't react nearly as badly to this one, and he was just glad he didn't fall after Mr. Tonks had given him a few pointers.

As they walked out, Harry looked around. Diagon Alley was looking rather deserted for two in the afternoon, even on a week day. There were groups of people, or the occasional mother with a child or two. He didn't miss that he could see a half dozen Aurors.

A man that Harry recognized turned and walked towards Knockturn Alley.

"That was Mundungus Fletcher," Harry whispered to Mrs. Tonks.

"I am sure that the Death Eaters must have a watch out as well. Hurry," she told them.

"This is the man mentioned last night?" Naila asked, looking after the man.

"Yeah," he told her.

She moved in a little closer to him.

They were able to get into the bank without any issues. It was not a busy as normal, meaning they were able to go right up to a counter.

"May I help you you?" a disinterested goblin asked, not looking up from the ledger and coins he was counting.

"I am Regent Black and Potter. Mr. Potter would like to visit his vaults and then we have an appointment with a mediator at three-thrity," Mrs. Tonks said in a rather regal way. Harry straightened up, with Naila copying them.

The goblin looked up. He first looked to Mrs. Tonk, then him. "Do you have your ring?"

Harry lifted his hand. The goblin looked at it. "And a key for the Potter vault?"

Harry took it out of his pocket. "I would like another key made for my wife," Harry told the goblin.

"Twenty-five galleons," the goblin said, seeming to be a little happier.

"Done."

A few minutes later, Naila was holding onto his arm for dear life as they twisted and dropped below London. They were going to head to the Potter vault first. When they stopped, Naila was trembling. "It's alright, Naila," Harry said, helping her out of the cart. It took her a moment to steady herself.

"I do not like those," she said to the cart.

"You don't have to come down here if you don't want next time," he promised. Naila nodded.

"Vault two-hundred and eight. Key please," the goblin ordered, holding out his hand.

Harry handed it over and the goblin ran a finger down a foot long section before putting the key in. He could already hear some bolts opening before the key was turned. When the door opened, Harry's eyes widened, even though he had been warned. His trust vault had held just over eight-thousand galleons. There was ten times that amount here, as well as some jewelry, a book case, some wands and some weapons.

"You have about the same amount in the Black vault," Mrs. Tonks said, looking around. "Neither family is as well off as they once were."

"Why is that?" Harry questioned. Naila had been told that she could look around and she had wandered towards the weapon racks.

"War isn't cheap and like many old families, their primary wealth was in their lands and holdings," she told him. "Neither family owns a tenth of what they once did. Naila and you should pick out a ring, and maybe a few small things you may want. We don't have a ton of time."

"Naila," Harry said, turning to her.

She was holding a knife that had a black gleam to it. It was about eight-inches long and looked very sharp. Runes were engraved in the metal. Harry didn't miss the goblin frown when he saw it. As she studied it, she slashed it through the air a few times before nodding. "May I have it?" she asked, holding it towards him.

"Master goblin, I know that is a goblin forged blade. What is the price for life-bond with it?" Harry asked. Apparently the Blacks, as much as they hated many things, had always done right by goblin customs. Being friends with the blighters forced them to keep their deals.

The goblin looked at him pensively. "One hundred and thirty-three galleon," the goblin said.

"May I have a bag to give you your tithe?" Harry asked him.

Naila gave him a big smile before coming over to look at the rings. She handed the one Sirius had given him as she held the heirloom knife. There were several rings to represent the Potters. Harry chose a simple gold one with a Potter crest in it. The gryphon was holding a sword and a wand.

Naila chose a similar one, just in silver.

Before they left, Harry took a few books off the shelves. Unfortunately, he didn't find any of his parents stuff that he hoped might be here.

Naila wasn't as shaky as they went down another level. "Vault one hundred and seven. Please wait a moment," the goblin said, again running his finger down a portion of the vault door. After the sounds of bolts moving stopped, the goblin said, "Please put your ring against the door."

Harry really didn't care for the ostentatious ring. It had the head of a raven with black opal eyes on it. When he pressed it against the door, more bolts could be heard sliding. Mrs. Tonks had been right. There was about the same as the Potter vault. Again, Naila went towards the weapons as he looked towards the books. He found two tomes to join the ones he took from his Potter vault.

Naila was jabbing a short spear out. It was about five feet long with what look like a foot long sword. Another two lay at her feet. One looked closer to six feet long with a similar head, while the other was probably about nine-feet long. Harry didn't think they were goblin made, but he could see the rune work in the blades. When she held out the short one, she said, "This is a good spear, but a little short. It will only be good in smaller spaces."

"What about the one at your feet?"

"I like that one, but it is too long if we are to be inside," she told him, indicating the long one.

Mrs. Tonks walked over to the stands. "These holsters will hold the shafts, so you could take both," she told Naila. "My family has not used any of these in a long time. My father used to lament the loss of the old martial dueling," she said, running her hand down a long scabbard. "He thought it the only good thing a Muggle had ever taught a wizard, but it was not couth for the Blood Purist, who were shunning anything Muggle."

"On my sixth birthday, I received my first spear. My father took each of us out for our first hunt when we turned ten. I could not take my spear with me," she said, running a hand along the shaft before allowing Mrs. Tonks to show her how the holsters worked. She took the short and normal length spear. They also found a leather cap that fit over both spears. She strapped them so that they were both on her back and pointing a little towards the ground. A wizards robes or cloak would be able to hide them.

When they got to the surface, Harry had to support Naila for a moment as they were shown to a conference room. The carts really didn't agree with her. Inside the room, Dumbledore and Moody were there, sitting across from Tonks and Mr. Tonks.

Dumbledore had a relatively blank expression on his face, while Moody looked like he was having a grand old time, a smile on his face while his eye buzzed around. "It is good to see you, Harry," Dumbledore said as he sat.

"You haven't seemed too glad to see for a while now," Harry retorted.

"I don't think that is the case at all. Would you care to tell me what happened yesterday?" Dumbledore requested in a way that made it sound more like an order. This was the man that had told him all about the prophesy and why he had been sent to his relatives, not the benign grandfather he had pretended to be.

"Before we discuss anything, I want to establish a few rules," Mrs. Tonks stated.

"Andromeda, you have already gotten in too deep. Let me deal with Harry," Dumbledore said.

"He is not your responsibility to deal with. I think that was made very clear at the will reading," she told him. "You were supposed to tell me where he was over a week ago."

"I informed you that the Order had him protected and he had to stay where he was," Dumbledore told her.

"That was not your decision to make," she reiterated.

"I am not going back to the Dursleys'," Harry spoke up.

"My boy, understand..." Dumbledore started.

"Understand what? The blood wards? If Death Eaters couldn't get into Grimmauld Place, then why were the blood wards any more powerful?" Harry asked. "I will not go back there."

Dumbledore sighed. "Your aunt is willing to take you back."

"No," Harry said, taking Naila's hand. She couldn't be subjected to what his life was there. He was sure Uncle Vernon would be livid if he had to go back.

"You expose your aunt, uncle and cousin to great danger. I must insist you go back to the Dursleys. The Order can take this girl and protect her, if that is what you are worried about," Dumbledore assured him. "We can find a safe house."

"Don't try any of that manipulative dung with us, headmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Potter will be living where they want," Mrs. Tonks said.

Albus eyes widened before he leveled his expression. "Mrs. Potter?" His voice sounded steely.

"Mrs. Potter," Harry agreed. He thought they would break this news a little differently, but the cat was out of the bag now.

Naila gave Dumbledore a look when his gaze turned to her, a slight bit of anger on his face. "I am Naila Potter. This is my life-mate, Harry Potter."

"You allowed him to marry? Do you have any idea how much her life is endangered now? To bring a Muggle into all this. She can't go Hogwarts," Dumbledore stated.

Mrs. Tonks held up a hand for them not to speak. Mr. Tonks pushed some papers over to Dumbledore. "Naila Potter is not a Muggle. She is a bound merrow-wife to Harry Potter, who had given up her transformation to be so."

"The ocean father Saturn has gifted me to Nimeu, who gifted me to Harry Potter. I have accepted this. Harry Potter is going to be a great chief and I will be his life-mate," Naila replied.

Dumbledore took the pages while Mr. Tonks went on. "You will find a copy of their marriage license, the letter confirming his change in status in the registry at the Department of Records, and copies of the forms I will be filing to change Mrs. Potter's status from being to half-human, giving her rights under the magical conventions."

Dumbledore put the pages down very deliberately. Moody gave out a barking laugh. "I told you that Potter is resourceful and would find a way if he wanted."

"Not now, Alastor," Dumbledore said, a hint of anger in his voice. The old man just stared at Harry, and he met the man's gaze rather defiantly. It was one of the few times the man had made contact with Harry's eyes over the last year. "Harry, it is imperative that we reestablish the link between you and our aunt. The blood wards are very important, I assure you. You and your... life-mate, will be welcomed back."

"I thought Privet Drive was burnt to the ground." Harry stated.

Dumbledore's blank expression didn't change. "There is another place that can be used."

"So, I just get to go where you tell me? Be isolated again from my friends? Were you going to tell me that I was named the primary heir to Sirius Black or that I had some vaults?" Harry questioned with an equally hard voice.

Dumbledore's eyes flicked to Mrs. Tonks.

"I have had to actually inform him of very little. My cousin was more responsible than I knew. Though, I find it interesting that Harry had not been informed about the reading, so could not have declined to show," Mrs. Tonks informed Dumbledore.

"I see," Dumbledore said, before looking back to the two teens.

Harry snorted. "You are not go to answer my questions again. Mrs. Tonks, I'm ready to go."

Dumbledore got up as he did. "Harry, you have to reestablish the link between your aunt and you."

"Why?" Mr. Tonks asked.

"It is important," Dumbledore stressed.

"Then tell me why," Harry demanded.

Dumbledore just regarded him for a moment. "It is important."

Moody stood. "Right. Albus, you promised to be truthful. You have not been in the last twenty-four hours. Consider this my resignation."

"Alastor, I have been truthful," Dumbledore said, this time loosing his temper and raising his voice, real anger crossing his face this time.

"You may be, but you are not telling us the reason. We lost two good people at the Ministry in June because you didn't tell any of us what we were protecting and allowed children to go and fight when we should have been the front line. Potter is willing to fight. I'll take my chances with him," Moody said, turning and starting to clump towards the floor. "Potter, I'll see wait for you outside."

Naila had gotten up and Harry moved to put her before him. The others did as well. "Dumbledore, my resignation stands," Tonks said.

"Harry, you can't just leave like this," Dumbledore said, his wand coming out and he moved towards the end of the table. "Fawkes!"

"You would use magic on goblin soil!" Mrs. Tonks hissed as the man's wand came up. None of them had pulled their wands yet. Naila had her knew knife in her hand. Perhaps Harry should go back and pick out a weapon or two?

This stopped Dumbledore just as his wand had pointed towards Harry. He shut his eyes for a moment before the man's anger fell from his face and he had the emotionless stare. His wand lowered. Mrs. Tonks glared at the man. "Headmaster Dumbledore, I forbid you making contact or talking to Mr. or Mrs. Potter without myself or a member of my family present. By the way, where is your phoenix?"

The man's eyes looked steely, even hateful as he showed no other emotion.

"Be this on your head should things go wrong," the man said before turning and stalking out of the room.

Just after he did, four doors opened in the side of the room and eight goblins in full battlegear came out, followed by one he recognized, Griphook, and another older looking goblin. Mrs. Tonks lower her head, and everyone else followed. "Master Agrod and Account Manager, I would like to thank you for your time and use of this neutral ground to meet on."

The older goblin nodded. "The coin of a Black or Potter is always good on this ground."

"It is appreciated," she replied.

"If he is your enemy, why keep from spilling his blood?" Master Agrod queried.

"Sometimes it is better to keep an enemy on the board, Master Agrod. As pacifistic as the old fool can be, he has kept our other enemy off foot. I also will not be responsible for a goblin rebellion or having the goblins turn on us. If he had used magic, I would have had to respond," she told him.

The goblin smiled, bearing his teeth. It was a disturbing site. "It had been a few generations since a great blood shed has occured. Many of our young grow wrestles to prove themselves. I do thank you though for not allowing yourself to get involved in that way. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Potter..." the goblin said, turning to them. He stopped when he saw Naila, then his eyes drifted to Harry.

"Is there an issue?" Harry challenged, not sure he liked the way the goblin was looking at them.

The goblin looked back to him, the smile coming back to his face. It really was disturbing. "I do not see any problem, Mr. Potter. Just something curious. Regent Black had requested another meeting with Gringotts in the next week to talk about possible investments. I would just like to confirm that for next Wednesday at ten AM."

He looked to Mrs. Tonks, who just stared back at him. The message was clear. This was his choice. That was something he was trying to get used too. Adults never gave him a choice. He always had to fight for it. Harry turned his head back to the goblin. "That is fine, Master Agrod."

The goblin nodded.

"Master Agrod, can I offer a small tithe if you can show us out a different way than the main doors?" Mrs. Tonks requested.

"A tithe of fifty galleons will see you out of Diagon Alley," the goblin said, a satisfied grin on his face.

"May your fortunes grow," Mrs. Tonks said.

"And your enemy's blood flow," Master Agrod replied.