Is This The World We Created
Chapter 4
"…is concerning, are you sure you're right?" came a tightly constrained voice, that was bathed in desperation that wanted to burst out, but too composed to actually outright voice that desperation. Or rather they usually were, to hear such disheartening information, well it was no surprised that they were desperate for it to be a wrong conclusion.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, only for a knock to startle him, it was the middle of the night, who on earth would be coming to his door at this time? "Give me a moment," he stated, turning and hastening to the door, wondering if something was wrong that they'd be summoning him…perhaps something was wrong with Stiles and he was declining again despite just having consumed a potion hours earlier. "Peter," he said surprised to see the werewolf, "How can I help you?"
Peter gazed around Harry, eyes suspicious and curious, cautious. "A moment of your time," he eventually answered, there were over a dozen huge mirrors levitating in the room, all with people clearly in them, he had heard them speaking when the door opened, and they were still conversing even as he watched. It was quite mesmerising to see, they were talking through mirrors, by the moon he had never seen anything like it.
"Come in, take a seat, there's coffee available if you wish a cup," Harry said, gesturing towards where the brew was stationed. Absently closing the door he moved back over to the mirrors, determined to continue his conversation. "I checked every single one in the region and then some, the main Nemeta is withering and it's fast, the only reason it's lasted this long was because it was bonded to…quite frankly one of the most powerful sparks I've ever heard of," the sparks he had in his sanctuary weren't capable of much, minor healing, a few defensive spells like all magical beings even sparks came in all different powers. Although, if they had bonded to a pack, had an Alpha, they would be significantly more powerful, and a few of them had in fact joined packs that had come to sanctuary making them all more powerful for it. Stiles was perhaps the real definition of what it was meant to be a spark.
"How long do we have?" asked the defeated voice grimly.
"Best I can work out…a year at most, the ground contamination is severe, and it's affecting the ley lines and telluric currents causing it to spread. It was poisoned years ago, but magic isn't easily culled, sacrifices kept it at bay, this was…inevitable." Harry explained grimly, "With or without the supernatural being exposed."
"Wouldn't a cleansing ritual set it to rights?" Hermione asked, already flipping through paperwork she had in front of her. "Surely it wouldn't affect anyone in Britain?"
"You'll survive longer, yes, but only by a week at most, have you looked outside? Seen the trees? They're dying off, and once magic starts dying off here, there will be a mad dash by everything grasping what little magic it can get in order to survive…"
"Which could mean us?" a shrill voice asked in alarm, the thought of their magic being gone was terrifying.
"It will mean us, wizards, witches, Druids, sparks…anything with an ounce of magical ability will lose their magic, which in turn will cease anything remotely magic about them, werewolves will lose their ability to shift, use magic, and those primarily made up of magic…will perish first. Pixies and other creatures attracted to magic I predict." Harry informed them.
"The cleansing ritual?" asked the shrill voice from before, sounding a little calmer.
"It might buy us a few weeks, given the extent of the damage, I think the tree has done all it can to survive and it's just giving up…the amount of magic it would require to cleanse for a fortnight survive it would mean at least thirty wizards and this is all just a guess, it might be more. To make matters worse, the Nemeta is in Beacon Hills."
Peter watched everyone's reaction to the name with rapid fascination and growing concern. If they had been werewolves they would have most assuredly been growling and snarling sub vocally. They loathed Beacon Hills with an intensity that even he couldn't fathom.
"A great deal of the hunter population seem to gravitate towards that area," Harry added, "I am not quite sure why…but I just dealt with over a dozen hunters with thirty more closing in before I left. That was in just one area, and they were militias about it too."
"I know the answer to that," Peter said smoothly, as he sipped on his cup, barely refraining from reacting when he suddenly had intense gazes of everyone in the mirror and Harry on him.
"Everyone is this Peter Hale, my mate," Harry said, surprising Peter with his open frankness, "Peter, from left to right, Hermione Granger, current location England. Jamie Mackenzie, Scotland, Aeron Thomas, Wales and Dean Thomas Ireland. Mia Thomson, Canada, Noah Brown and Zeynep Brown, Turkey and William Smith from France, Maria Garcia, Spain, James Johnson and Zuzanna Johnson Poland, Daisy Hernandez, Mexico." Quickly introducing the rest of them. "Amelia Curry, Timothy, Liam, Antony, Steven, Lilian and Julia are from various states in America."
They didn't speak, just watched him with a feral intensity waiting for him to answer.
"The tree was always alive and thriving when my sister, Talia Hale was Alpha," Peter revealed honestly, "We never had much trouble except from the occasional feral Omega and opportunists trying to settle into Beacon Hills. We were an old, very much established pack, not many desired to go against us in a fight not even for a place with an abundance of power."
Peter took another drink before continuing, the warmth was a godsend, "Something happened after my sisters death, the tree was poisoned, withering, sometime in a six year window perhaps longer I cannot say for certain, the memory of the Nemeta was taken from both myself and my nephew both of us Beta's at the time."
"Then when did you become aware of it again?" Hermione asked Peter.
"Saturday, September, fifteenth, 2011," Peter answered blankly, barely even needing to think.
"That's awfully, specific," Hermione admitted, not sure whether to be impressed or wary.
"Hard to forget," Peter answered wryly, having sent a lot of time in either a coma or Eichen house, he always tried to make sure he knew the date. Also not only had his return weakened him, but the blood moon eclipse had rendered him completely powerless. Human. Without the safety of pack…with an Alpha pack after them, it had been terrifying. Thankfully the outcome had been favourable, and he had successfully…let off some steam by killing at least one of the threats to the minuscule Hale pack. When he had told Stiles that Derek was like Scott, he hadn't been kidding, he had let the remaining members of the Alpha pack live, but he had been manipulated, still reeling over the latest betrayal and usage of his body against his will and Peter had ensured it wouldn't happen again. That sort of magic remained, regardless of the thrall being gone. He wasn't taking any chances when it came to Cora and Derek's safety. He might not have shown it, at least not properly, but he cared about them both, his actions spoke louder than words. He had remained. Stayed in a town where he had burnt until he was near death, only to spend six years in a coma as an omega. Showing more consideration to his family than they had shown to him. Only after Laura was killed did Derek visit him, six long years he was alone it still hurt, but he covered it up with anger and rage "It wasn't just a Nemeta after that, it was a beacon, it drew in supernatural's in droves, a few not even knowing they were supernatural to begin with."
Harsh indrawn of breaths met his statement.
"It became a death drawer, hoping against hope to have something supernatural to pull from, strong enough to sustain it, sacrifices to save it." Harry nodded, unsurprised, "The Nemeta has been through hell and back, and the unbelievable pain it is in…I don't understand how a Druid could let it happen."
"You speak of it as through it's sentient," Peter murmured a thoughtful frown on his face.
"That's because it is, all magic is sentient, Peter, even the other Nemeta, they have minds of their own, certain levels of intelligence or at the very least instincts." Harry explained.
"Would a cleansing draught help?" Hermione pondered.
Harry visibly became exasperated and annoyed, "You're all thinking short term, we need a plan for the long term. These actions are only going to see us surviving for a few extra weeks a month at most."
"What do you suggest, Harry? We're trying out best here," Hermione sighed, tiredness clearly coating her voice and her face was haggard.
"With all the resources we have, bring them to bear, try and find something that will send one of us back in time." Harry stated firmly, "If we don't have something come up with a ritual, something, anything, to save us all."
Peter's eyes narrowed in on Harry shrewdly, wondering why he wasn't sharing his own resources. Then again, he wouldn't be either, he'd be the one that wanted to accomplish it, go back in time and all. Then again Peter had no idea the respect Harry Potter held within the magical world.
"We all wanted to do that Harry, but there is nothing that could send up back in time, and time-turners only go back twenty-four hours and the Aurors did that to begin with, it did not help." Mia Thomson said, her voice soft and soothing, she didn't like conflict.
"Have you all already given up? Is this what you want your last stand to be? Standing there unable to breath as the world dies around us? As we die?" Harry said firmly, "We are wizards and witches, some of the most capable minds in the supernatural world, prodigies, IQ's off the charts…at least try to come up with something we have absolutely nothing to lose! This isn't just about trying to save what we can of the supernatural now…it's our very survival, and the survival of magic. It was gifted to all of us for a reason, do not let magic down, do not let yourselves down, now get some sleep, think on it, read, and we will get together next week and have a brainstorming session. If it doesn't work out at least we would have given it our all to try and survive to save the world." Declared Harry with passion, the same passion that had seen them enacting dozens and dozens of supernatural sanctuaries all over the world one after another.
Peter watched amused, that little speech seemed to do the trick, as they came alive, determined, strong, resolute at the words of Harry's conviction.
"You're right Harry, we never give up," Hermione said slowly, "We'll do what we can with the resources we have and come up with something." Always, always the first to believe in Harry, although she had contradicted him a few times herself and been proven right, the incident with Sirius Black came to mind although she never minded him of it, he carried that guilt regardless.
"Get some rest," Harry said softly, an unbearable fondness for the witch. "Rest well," half of them were just starting their day so he didn't say goodnight.
Suddenly everyone was muttering 'Deactivate' and the mirrors were going blue before Harry's gaze appeared in some fashion in them all. A wave of Harry's wand the mirrors flew to the opposite end of the room, slotting carefully beside the desk, put away for the moment. "That was a very…inspiring speech,"
Harry just tried to smile but it came out more a grimace.
"Now why after all this time…do you want to 'brainstorm' as it were? you've had this spell for well, a while at least…" Peter said smoothly, standing up, regarding Harry with suspicion. "You've gotten a part you need for the spell and the only thing I can deduce is that you intend to use Stiles," mate or not, he'd never allow anything to happen to Stiles. His claws unconsciously emerged, ready to do whatever he had to in order to protect Stiles.
"Yes," Harry made no effort to lie, "Use is a nefarious term, I would never even to save the world…sacrifice someone, unless it was myself." He was not like Dumbledore.
Peter took a step back almost bewildered, he wasn't lying. "Why do you need Stiles?" he then asked, watching Harry turn his back on him. Foolish move, he had seen how defensive he was of his pack, he had to know just because they were mates it didn't make him safe?
"Most of the sparks here…their powers didn't activate until their lives were in danger, their…cores are very small, their belief in their abilities is infinitesimal. They hadn't been aware of the supernatural until it was on the television. Some have become more powerful after joining packs here, in order to bolster their own powers to help others and the pack obviously gained power themselves from it. Stiles however, I don't think you can comprehend the scope of his power and his belief. He's been keeping the Nemeta going for who knows how long and keeping your pack safe simultaneously," Harry said, sitting back down, once again facing Peter there was no awe or amazement just matter-of-fact statement. "Potentially, he could draw the remaining power from the Nemeta's and allow for someone to go back in time. Potentially more than one person…the kind of power required to send someone back in time who knows how many years would be gigantic and while we have magical implements to aid us…in the end its about raw power."
"Again why didn't you let them know?" Peter asked again, joining him, sitting on the other side, directly facing him. He knew if the Alpha had been here, he wouldn't have gotten away with demanding answers. He was well aware that despite not being a werewolf or an Alpha that this wizard, his mate, was in fact the leader. Perhaps not just of this particular sanctuary, given the conversations he had just observed.
"Nobody is to know about Stiles," Harry stated firmly, "With the exception of your pack, of course. Desperation can…lead to a lot of unpleasantness. Makes you act irrationally, and while I know everyone here…this new news could cause friction, the last thing we want is anyone trying to enact it themselves and getting everyone killed." Trying to force a spark to do anything was…suicidal, especially as one as powerful and wilful as Stiles was. He might not have had much of an interaction with the guy, but he had seen his determination, wilfulness and personality shine through. He had to be strong in order to be the heart of the Hale pack.
Peter stiffened at the suggestion, and immediately gave a nod of understanding. Oh, yes, he knew what desperation could lead to, the feral-ness that left the person feeling they had no other choice. He had endured it once before, and it wasn't something he'd wish on anyone. In this case ignorance was not only bliss but required, Stiles life might depend on it.
Harry wouldn't even tell his own people, while he himself held strong to his morals, he wasn't sure if the others would. This war had changed everyone, even himself, to a certain extent. No, it was better if nobody knew about Stiles, safer that way. This might be their one and only chance to save the world.
"Which is where your fascination for Beacon Hills came from," Peter murmured in realization, these plans he had been determined to see them through, getting any scrap of information about the place in order to best know when to return to. "A determined wizards last stand."
Harry just grinned tiredly at him, "Yeah, I have never given in easily or at all," too bull-headed for that, even as hopeless as it seemed, not once had he given up. Not during the war with Voldemort when it looked at its bleakest. Yawning tiredly, rubbing at his face, the scraping of hair the only thing heard as Harry rubbed at his cheeks and chin tiredly. "How are they?" he asked, enquiring about the rest of his pack.
"Sleeping," Peter replied immediately, properly sleeping for the first time in weeks, Derek had been too afraid that Stiles would pass in his sleep and barely ate or slept. Focusing near obsessively and constantly on Stiles rabbiting heartbeat. Not that the rest of the pack had it any easier, too worried the spells would fade and they'd be vulnerable. That wasn't including the worry and fear they had for Stiles' sickness itself, much like werewolves, Sparks magic made sure he didn't get sick, it protected them against most things. So they knew whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
"Shouldn't you be doing the same thing?" Harry asked, before reassuring his mate, "Nothing can get through the wards, not even ammunitions or projectiles. We secured the place from top to bottom, nobody even knows the ranch exists, we've survived bombs detonating close to this place…and humans cant perceive sanctuary. Even if they had someone extremely powerful on their side it would not matter, the wards were cast with my blood, blood wards can only be removed by the castor. Go get some sleep, we'll talk in the morning." He had put them in the tent for tonight, the very magical tent and had got to see their reactions to magic, they'd be moved to the newly built cabin or if they preferred the attic rooms which had just been finished also.
Harry stood, gesturing for Peter to follow him, and they both silently made their way back downstairs of the property, and outside. Both easily avoiding the vegetable patches and trees, Harry plucked two pears from the tree offering one to Peter, who didn't pass up the chance to eat. He didn't think he ever would again, once he settled down and listened to everyone sleep, he'd been near enough in a food coma himself but he couldn't sleep, too unsettled and the unknown had worried him.
"Why such a negative reaction to just hearing the name Beacon Hills?" Peter asked, before biting into the admittedly delicious pear. Surprised he could fit anything more into his stomach, sure, werewolves always ate more, but it had been a long time since they'd been capable of filling their stomachs.
They continued to walk, "I think most people would obliterate that town if they could," Harry said, the tent in view. "It's primarily to do with Scott McCall, the hated transferred from the person to the town as well. I don't think there's one person left in the world who didn't wish they had the ability to go back and kill the idiot." He'd revealed the supernatural world that had remained hidden from view forever.
Peter stiffened, thankfully unnoticed by Harry, or so he thought.
"I know you obviously grew up there, and the place probably has a lot of fond memories but that's the reality of it." Harry added, assuming that Peter was angry and defensive due to the town.
Peter snorted derisively, "You couldn't be more wrong," he sneered, not at Harry in particular, but the situation, he loathed the fact he had bitten Scott McCall. It used to be he wished he'd bitten Stiles instead, who was definitely preferable to the two. Stiles had been healthy, he'd gone after a Beta who he thought he could manipulate after making him well, someone who should have been grateful. He'd been feral, desperate, with the new Alpha powers coursing through his already shattered mind. He couldn't remember the good times, he just couldn't, it hurt too much. How lax they had been…how unprepared, how stupid.
Green eyes met blue, "And that wouldn't surprise me," Harry said sombrely, vibrant and understanding, with a whole slew of empathy. Stepping forward, he pressed a kiss to Peter's check, unable to help himself, the desire to do more was almost overwhelming. Fortunately, he was an adult, not an impulsive little boy, and so too was Peter. Although it was certainly fucked up that they'd meet in this situation, the circumstances weren't ideal but this was the world they were living in. "Sleep, you're safe, we'll talk tomorrow, you're all welcome to have breakfast with me," he promised, with that he turned and walked away, it was difficult to walk away from his mate, but he knew he wouldn't be welcomed in the pack den. He was an unknown, a stranger, and Peter needed his pack, the reassurance he could only get from them. They'd been together through all this, being away from the rest of the pack had to be painful, worrisome. The only reason he'd came to him was because he was worried, the questions he'd been asking and digging for clearly portrayed that.
Harry had no idea what was coming, or the horror that the Hales had endured long before the world had gone to shit but he was going to find out.
As soon as everyone in the pack was awake, Peter had requested Stiles to put up wards to prevent anyone hearing anything they said. Taking Harry's words to heart, that nobody must know about Stiles. Peter then immediately regaled them with the new information he'd learned. Everything he'd observed from Harry's meeting to everything that had been said. Cora wrapped around her uncle like a koala, something she'd used to do as a child. She started back up before the world went to hell, although, she had just lost her second pack when she started it up, managing yet again, to get away when everyone else died. That left a mark on her that made her feel as if she was cursed. Nowadays, before this, they'd been too busy to think too much, which helped Cora come back to them.
"He really thinks that I have the power to send people back in time?" Stiles asked pensively, unlike the others he wasn't outright dismissing Time-travel as a fairy tale and fools hope. Well, not everyone, Derek had been silent, as he often was when magic was being brought up. He knew a lot from everything Stiles explained, and didn't outright dismiss anything without Peter or Stiles input trusting that they knew what they were talking about. They had extensive experience when it came to magic after all.
"To help aid the ritual, he has the magical implements that are required, yes, but he evidently needs a power boost from the Nemeta to go far enough back." Peter informed him, brow furrowed, absently brushing Cora's hair away from her face. "There was no lie in his heartbeat, but it might be due to his own belief that he can do it, whether it can be done or not remains to be seen." He had come back from the dead, there wasn't much magic wasn't actually capable of. So yes, he believed it might be theoretically possible to accomplish it, it had never been done or if it had, it was a tightly guarded secret and presumably the person who did the deed died with the knowledge. IF, if it had been done to begin with.
"Look there's nobody more than us who wish we could go back in time," Chris argued, a pained look on his face, "But we need to face facts, its bullshit…something like this would have been found! Used!"
"I don't know Chris…I mean it requires a wizard who's been dead…who's Mastered Death I don't know exactly what it means but it isn't normal, not even by magical standards. If I died I wouldn't come back," Stiles refuted his belief, soothing Derek who let out a pained whine at the thought of losing Stiles for a second. "At least not by normal means, I don't know, I need to talk to him and figure this all out."
Chris and thereby Isaac, still looked dubious over the prospect.
Liam just lay spread eagle in the pile, dozing lightly but listening as they spoke. He didn't give his opinion, just relishing in everything being good for now. He didn't think on what had been revealed yesterday, he didn't want to.
"Chris, do you trust me?" Stiles asked seriously, his face filled with fire and determination, the same fire and determination that had kept them safe this long.
"You know I do," Chris sighed, resigned to going along with their crazy schemes, it wouldn't be the first time either. Back all those years ago, he had never thought for a second he would be part of a wolf pack let alone fond of every single of them. They had his back the way his own family hadn't, they showed they cared, his mother, father, sister and even his own wife barely showed any hint of emotion. And Allison would have been raised the same way as him if he hadn't decided he didn't want to have Allison wondering constantly if she was loved. Gosh, Victoria had been so bitingly cold, even to her own daughter, it was little wonder she had been drawn to the pack, the love, affect and attention the comradery was like nothing else. it just took a long time for him to see it, but Alison hadn't seen the darker side of the supernatural so it was quite clearly easier for her. He had an entire lifetime of prejudice shoved down his throat to fight before he could find some semblance of peace.
"Then lets not write it off until we know for sure…because if there is a chance…even a slim one…we have to take it," Stiles said, "We wouldn't just be saving ourselves but we'd be saving the world." Unknowingly echoing Harry's sentiments from last night.
"Isaac?" Stiles then turned to the werewolf, who despite his age still clung to any positive influence in his life. It was almost like he had never grown up, staying the age he was when he was turned into a werewolf. Oh, everything that had happened had affected him, but emotionally he was still an abused boy. Stiles had spoke to Derek and Peter about it, wondering it was a werewolf thing, but Peter and Derek said being a werewolf heightened your emotions but he should have calmed down and became centred within the first few years of the change. The fact he hadn't wasn't anything to do with the supernatural but Isaac's inability to get passed everything his father had done to him. He hadn't allowed himself to expand, grow and live, to have a partner. Liam himself was more mature than Isaac which said a lot.
"How would it work anyway? We don't even know when the tree was poisoned," Isaac pointed out, "And whatever power we have might not go back far enough even if it IS possible."
"Something to be discussed with the guy," Stiles reassured him.
"That might be true, but we have a good idea as to when," Peter said thoughtfully speaking to Isaac before glancing at Stiles, "Which remind me, he offered to allow us to eat breakfast with him if you're inclined to speak to him."
"He's your mate, don't you want to spend time with him?" Stiles asked, "Just the two of you?" he knew from experience how the full felt, Derek and he had gone through the same thing, and it had hurt Derek a great deal to be away from him until the bond settled. Then again Peter and Harry weren't bonded yet. It didn't help that Derek had been through trauma and had severe trust issues.
Peter recalled Harry's actions last night, while he was clear Harry did wish to spend time with him…he understood the importance of pack. Knew intimately how Peter was feeling, and knew no doubt, that he wouldn't have been welcomed into their 'den' and Harry had made it clear from the tent flap – never once entering when he was showing them – that it was theirs to do as they liked, and even that it might be a temporarily accommodation depending on what they wanted in future. "He knows the pack comes first," Peter eventually diplomatically stated, which wasn't like him, but quite frankly he wasn't sure what to make of Harry or this situation they'd found themselves in.
"I am hungry," Liam murmured, "Do you think we'll get a big breakfast?" or was it a onetime thing with them appearing as they did? He wouldn't be surprised if it was a one time thing, food was scarce, not easily gotten, and how they managed to cook the food they'd had earlier…he didn't even begin to comprehend. Obviously magic was involved, there was no other way to cook something like a Turkey by a wooden fire was there? Not without it ending up something rotten to eat and charred to pieces.
"Let's go find out," Derek stated, when the others looked to him – except Peter – for guidance. As much as Isaac loved Chris – like a son to a father – he wasn't a werewolf, and Derek had been at one point Isaac's Alpha, so it wasn't so surprising that Isaac actually listened to Derek whether on a conscious or unconscious level.
With that, the group who had all slept in their clothes, began to put their shoes on. The 'tent' had five rooms in total, all divided by simple yellow netting that you can see through. There were two additional 'curtains' that were thicker tied up at the ends so one can get more privacy if they desired it. It was redundant with werewolves anyway, there was no real privacy to be had. They hadn't used the 'room's' instead they'd elected to lay on the floor, something Harry had predicted they'd prefer and the living room had one massive mattress, that was bigger than two queens joined together. It still gave them enough room to walk around, without falling over too. Which when it came to Stiles it was a distinct possibility nonetheless. Not that Stiles had been overly animated still recovering from his bout of consciousness for over a week which had left him weak.
The second they stepped over the threshold, the sanctuary burst into sound, causing them to startle badly. Stiles stepped back and forth with a sort of gleeful look on his face. His silencing caused no noise to get out of the bubble, but they still heard all noise on the outside. So to see it obviously going both ways was just another sign of magic and like all times it pleased Stiles to no end.
"That was disconcerting," Peter admitted, but also impressed. They'd thought they were the first ones up, but it was clear they were not. A group of shifted werewolves were busy with woodwork and the foundations of another cabin was clearly being made. In the tree line there was Centaurs exchanging food with some sort of blue creature with wings, some sort of mutant Pixie? It bobbed away, clearly unburdened by the weight of the basket it had taken from the Centaur. Others were busy picking fruit from trees or digging into the vegetable patch. The pups were shrieking happily playing in a large paddling pool, some of them even shifted, and it wasn't raising any brows nobody seemed even the slightest bit perturbed and it was the best thing he'd ever seen. To think there were dozens upon dozens of more of these sanctuaries set up all over the world was…phenomenal. This…this world he was suddenly getting to know…Pixies and Centaurs, was this what Stiles felt when the supernatural world was revealed to him? He'd thought nothing could excite him anymore, make him awed or feel much of anything but right now he was proven wrong.
"What a waste of water," Chris said staring at the pool of water slightly aghast. It didn't look like it had been drawn from a body of water, like a river, wasn't really dirty, although there were grains of dirt in the bottom presumably from where the kids were getting in and out.
"Which way?" Liam asked, unable to sniff out their own scents to backtrack towards Harry's room, too many people and come and gone, their scent stopped right where they were. The pups had been rolling around in the mud by the looks of it, perhaps why there was a swimming pool for them today. He'd been injured so neither he or Stiles actually knew the way, but Peter had obviously sought him out to talk to him last night before all their scents were wiped away.
Peter was almost, almost reluctant to go, he just wanted to sit and observe, learn all he could about these new creatures he was in the same sanctuary with. Desired to know what they were and what they could do. After giving the area one last sweep, eyes going wide at the sight of what could only be a giant ripping a tree from it's roots and taking it over to the werewolves and someone else in turn planting four trees to replace the one just unrooted. This was going to be the most interesting place he'd ever seen, and he had travelled a bit.
Unfortunately, there was something much more pressing to deal with, a potential future to save for them all. Plus, all the books that had been on the shelves, he wouldn't find a better place to find out about everyone. They'd saved knowledge as well as people and he respected that.
When they finally made it to Harry's room, they found the door was open and he wasn't eating breakfast at all. He looked to be busy perusing dozens of books, writing away, the second Liam made a noise, a soft one of unhappiness that there was no food, Harry's head jerked up, surprise flittering over the green eyes, it was almost as if he didn't expect them to come, which made Peter wonder if he ever had company or if it was just the lack of time he had for social interaction.
"Good morning," came the dulcet tone, "Hungry?" he asked them, giving them a serious look, at the blatant snort from Isaac and Liam Harry frowned, "Even werewolves who have come here have ended up sick from eating too much and their stomachs rebelling against them. Refeeding syndrome is a very serious matter, you can still get all the symptoms you just lack the ability to die from them."
"Werewolves can get Refeeding syndrome?" Stiles asked stepping in utterly too curious for his own good. "I would have thought their healing would stop any symptoms from showing!" he exclaimed before explaining exactly what Refeeding syndrome was to the clueless group, even Chris seemed oblivious to what it was. which did surprise Stiles, but considering Isaac and Liam had both been human they should have known what it was too.
"Yes, but you're forgetting they aren't working at full speed, due to their inability to find a lot to eat, they aren't getting the energy they need on a daily basis for the exercise they do." Harry pointed out amused, laughing a little into his hands when Isaac and Liam exclaimed excitedly when the food came. Putting his pen down, and flexing his hand, stretching out a little, the bags prominent under his eyes, showing the lack of sleep he'd had.
"How do they know we're here?" Derek asked suspiciously, that definitely wasn't food for one person. He grunted as he was elbowed in the stomach by his mate.
Harry stared at Derek, wondering just what he had been through in order to be so damn suspicious of every little thing. Had pack betrayed him? it was…inconceivable really, to think that, pack was family. The others weren't as suspicious so perhaps not? Either that or they just weren't showing it, too grateful to be overly suspicious. "I informed the House-elves that I might have company, and the House-elves are very much aware of every single being under my care, under my wards. So they know how much to cook so that everyone gets breakfast," although it had been a nightmare to teach them not to waste a single damn thing. They couldn't afford it, but with preservation charms they had persevered.
"House-elves? Are they like the Elves out of lord of the rings?" Stiles asked in a rush, eyes gleaming brightly, as he took a seat. There was a hash brown, a sausage, bit of bacon an egg two slices of toast – bread! – and a spoonful of beans and a portion of scrambled egg. Nothing over the top like yesterdays meal, but it was more than they'd had in a long time.
Harry just blinked blankly, "I have no idea," he'd never read Lord Of The Rings or anything remotely Mundane since he was eleven years old. Even before that, all he had was his school books, the Dursley's certainly hadn't bought anything for him. Plus, if it had elves in it, chances were, it would have been banned from the Dursley's household anyway, magic wasn't even allowed to be mentioned without severe consequences. The Mundane seem to like making the supernatural cute, he noticed, like mermaids, now those fuckers weren't like Arial from the little mermaid.
Everyone else followed Stiles lead, Derek as always following his mate, sticking close to him unable to bear being away from him, even doing something simple as eating breakfast. He'd almost lost him, it would take a while to loose the extreme protective tendencies or rather draw them in.
"Oh! Do you have a book about the different kind of people you have here?" Stiles asked, causing Peter to pout comically at the words.
"You mean magical creatures I presume?" Harry asked, standing up from his seat and ambling towards the books on his shelf, "There are all kinds of books available in the library, they're all copies of my own books and others I've managed to copy over time. They're all magical, although we do have a big collection of Mundane children books, that have been brought in over time." Plucking one particular book from the shelf and copying it twice, before replacing the real copy and wandering over to Stiles and handing him one and Peter the other with a smirk.
Stiles gaped at the blatant magical display and the fact it came so easy and quickly, and added to the fact he hadn't thought of copying books before. Just to see if he could, Stiles focused on his own magic, closing his eyes focusing fully and to his delight it worked, he absently checked to make sure it was perfect before sitting back smugly. Rather proud of himself.
"Eat your breakfast," Derek said, poking Stiles in the side, to get his focus, knowing if he didn't Stiles would get sucked down into a research binge and probably read the entire book while his food got cold. He needed to eat, he had lost too much weight. "Uncle Peter," Derek then grumbled in annoyance, since he too was trying to read the book.
Cora sniggered as she ate, it was the most normal morning they'd had in such a long time that Cora loved it.
Peter simply rolled his eyes and closed the book, but as always a pang of warmth hit him whenever Derek or Cora used his full title. They hadn't for the longest time, and if they did it was with derision, not the whining tone or exasperated ones they had as children. It didn't help that those were the last words his niece had ever said to him, not that he'd told Derek or Cora that piece of information. The note of surprise and astonishment in Laura's tone, so surprised to see him up and about after abandoning him in a cesspit for six years.
"How do you have enough to feed so many people?" Cora asked, nothing defensive in her tone just simple curiosity.
"We have a breeding programme, working closely with the other sanctuaries, eggs are the easiest to get, the chicks grow fast…much like rabbits in that way. We make sure that no animal is bred with its own sibling or close family, it just results in animals that are…deformed and with an abundance of problems that usually result in death. Something we can do without, so they're spread around sanctuaries and we in turn get some ourselves and the breeding continues giving us more than enough animals to ensure our survival. You'll find quite a mixture of meats here, not all of them American, some British some even Australian, Kangaroo meat is rather tasty, cross between venison and buffalo meat," Werewolves and many other creatures need meat, it was just that simple. "It's on the menu tonight, actually, so you'll get your taste." He informed them as he and the others continued to consume their breakfast with great gusto.
"What can we do to help?" Isaac asked, staring at Harry starry eyed, causing Peter to roll his eyes, Luna help them, it looked as though Isaac had found himself another person to latch onto. He couldn't help but ponder Harry's possible reactions to that, as he ate at a much more leisurely pace than yesterday's rushed meal.
"There are always things that require doing here at Sanctuary, and there is a board in the hallway that lists everything everyone has to do each day." Harry stated firmly, there was nobody getting to freeload here, "Sometimes its just one thing other times its two or three, nothing more than six chores a day. From milking the cows, churning butter, washing and drying the clothes, making the bread, taking out food to those that live in the forest, and getting food back in turn a lot of berries, picking up vegetables, helping construct cabins for more room for everyone and of course, more animals. Sometimes it's something as simple as taking the animals for a walk, the dogs and horses. The kids normally exhaust the dogs and wolves while playing, but they're only allowed out after breakfast."
"Wait you waste food on dogs?" Liam asked aghast and slightly disgusted without really meaning it. All those long years they'd hungered and starved, it just irked him that dogs were better fed than him.
"They primarily live off entrails of the animals we kill or meat that we don't tend to eat, and of course kibble, which is down to its last few bags, so we're giving them a little less," Harry stated bluntly, "There aren't a lot of them, so they're well fed with what they get." They weren't used for breeding to eat or anything else other than they were found, rescued and saved or came in with packs. Not that it mattered much, every single thing on this planet was destined to die if they couldn't figure out how to go back and stop it.
"Dogs do not deserve your derision, according to the human population you're lower down the food totem pole, they'd rather feed a dog over you or I. They still feel hunger, still feel pain, they aren't lesser to anyone, and I had better not see you destress any living thing in sanctuary because you will blow it not only for yourself but your entire pack." Harry warned sternly, green eyes gleaming, as if he could see into the heart of Liam and knew of his…violent tendencies. He knew the pack would go with Liam if he was kicked out, and it would be their decision, but Harry could not let anyone get away with breaking the rules, it would cause anarchy if he allowed it, discord.
That elicited a silence that was bordering on very uncomfortable with the threat of being kicked out, and it might have only been a single day but even they knew how much better off they were here and now than out there unable to sleep without an eye open and at least two people on guard. The thought of leaving here, for Derek was terrifying, Harry had been able to make Stiles better, whereas if they'd continued on as they had – as they had to – his mate would have slipped into a coma and died. As suspicious as he was of everything, even he acknowledged that, and he'd be grateful for that. He just wasn't one with the capabilities of showing that.
Liam paled, would he ever leave his past behind? He wasn't that young frustrated boy anymore. Never mind the fact the guy seemed to know more about his past than should be possible. It wasn't as if he had trouble controlling his shift, which begged the question how did he know?
"If you ever feel the need to let off some steam, you can join the others training, it's more of a…fun tournament to get rid of pent up energy than any real defensive training for the ones that don't do patrolling." Harry informed him, "Although, a few Alphas have allowed their seconds to do one-on-one training for those who desire to do better. Alpha's obviously cannot partake because the injuries take significantly much longer to heal."
"You can read minds?" Stiles asked, wary to the extreme, "You're a telepath?" he wasn't the only one to actually react to that news. They all became stiff and ready to flee at any moments notice. Especially Chris, he knew the extreme hatred all supernatural's had against hunters, and he honestly couldn't blame them considering what had happened.
Not that Harry seemed to mind, his lips were quirking up in amusement, as he stared at them, "No, not a telepath," Harry said sighing in exasperation, "That's not to say I couldn't read someone's mind if the mood struck, magic is a many varied subject and can just about do anything. Having magic of your own you'd probably notice, I don't make a habit of reading peoples thoughts, although it would have saved me a great deal of trouble over the years if I had." The sanctuary hadn't always been a smooth sailing place, but he'd learned, and when he warned he only gave one warning.
Stiles nodded solemnly, completely agreeing with that assessment, it would have been better.
"You've been doing research, I assume your previous assessment still holds true? One year?" Peter asked, changing the subject.
"Less," Harry informed him seriously, rubbing his eyes, "Given the damage the hunters have been doing…I guesstimated the population, the trees, the rot and the length of time it will take to wither completely, both Mundane trees and Magical trees I put it anywhere between six to ten months. Even if we went out planting what trees we could it wouldn't be enough to live as Mundane's once magic is banished. I honestly don't even know if its possible to survive having your magic ripped from you as it dies." And the most terrifying thought for him was what if he survived as everyone else perished as MOD? It was more than terrifying, not even his Occlumency barriers could stop that fear from leaching out, allowing the werewolves to feel what Harry was experiencing right now.
Stiles shuddered, he'd been using magic daily for years, maybe not a whole lot like Harry but he did magic to protect what was his and that was enough. "Okay, okay, so you said it's possible to do this time-travel three-knot spell/ritual…where would we get the phoenix tears, feather and sand of time? Do phoenixes even exist?"
"The sands of time is sand from a time-turner," Harry explained plucking one from his desk, it wasn't the only one he had. "This has the ability to send you back exactly twenty-four hours in time, its imbued with some seriously powerful magic, they can't be duplicated in any way, its perfectly ordinary sand just with an inordinate amount of magic poured into it that allows time to be turned back."
Cora, Isaac and Liam all gaped, it was a near thing for Peter and Derek and Chris just shook his head. "I can feel it, the power in it, it's almost vibrating with it."
Harry frowned, "Sparks should only be able to sense their own kind of power…hmm, it might explain why they'd never been able to be duplicated." The Ministry of magic hoarded what they had, back in the day, before all of them tried to beat back the hunters using Obliviates and dropping like flies from gunshots. Unable to get the better of them, then in hiding it was. "There may have been a Spark in the magical world at one point, either that or they were commissioned by a seriously powerful Spark."
"But the other things? Phoenix tears and feathers?" Stiles asked, hope beginning to thrum through him.
"Do not panic," Harry told Peter, very aware of his reaction to fire, for reasons he didn't know yet. "Fawkes?" Harry called, and a great ball of fire shot into the room, red and gold overwhelming everyone's senses before a beautiful phoenix stood on the table, thrilling softly, as awe spread across all their faces and the soothing song relaxed them, made them feel good in a way they hadn't felt in so long.
A/N – Well there we go! An update that's 3K longer than usual I hope you enjoyed it, this was meant to be the whole Hale history dragged into this story too but evidently it wasn't meant to be, I do hope myself that it doesn't take up to twenty chapters to have them going back BUT I do want world building before its done so we know what they've left behind, what they want to prevent…so will Scott be killed? Or will the past be changed enough that just after he should have been bitten Scott McCall dies of a severe asthma attack? Would Stiles be able to do that? Even to save his father? So timeline of when they go back : Either before Deucalion's attack : Paige being killed : Hale house fire? They're primarily there to prevent the tree being poisoned and do what must be done to prevent the earth from dying and the supernatural exposure comes secondary…shocking I know but what's the point in helping one if the others inevitable anyway? Oh and imprisoned or killed Argents? I've done them all quite liberally, and in different ways too 😉 so it's up to you guys :D :D it would be my pleasure if you had a way that hasn't been written about to be done :D R&R please!