Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed, Harry Potter or any Tamora Pierce characters in this story.
Chapter Sixteen: Hello Daddy
Paige turned a corner and entered Professor Alanna's dark forbidding office. She wasn't there. Harry left Paige in the office part and went into the home part of the office. "She's not here." he said, when he returned to her side. Paige whiped her face from the tears and heard a door shut behind her. She spun around and was face to face with Alanna. "Sorry, did I startle you?" Paige nodded and sat down in the office with Harry.
Alanna hung up her sword and cloak and sat down behind the besk. "I want to know about what you told me." said Paige, looking into her mother's eyes. Alanna sighed and started. "When I was 19, I was in the Great Desert in Canada. It was home of the Bazhir and my family. I was Bazhir shamen and your father, Liam was the chief's ward. His parents had died when he was two and Ali Mumbara, the chief, had taken care of him until he turned 21. One day, Liam and I were riding on our horses near the river and a storm started. We rode for cover, reaching an old barn of my families. My charm against having children had broken off as we rode and I'd forgotten it. There I fell pregant when Liam and I confessed our love to each other. You were born 7 months later, premature. I named you Corrine Leigh Shinkohami. Shinkohami is your last name. When you were one year old, I went to war with Conte. Against my friend, Johnathan. We defeated them, but later I was captured. Before I got dragged off, I yelled to Liam. "Take Cory to Keladry if you can't care for her." A few days later, Liam had ridden to Keladry with you and given you to Keladry. He asked her never to tell her about your father and I and to take you as their own. The triplets, Prue, Piper and Phoebe had been three and Keladry was going to have Penny and Peter in 9 months when you were two. They named you Paige Shinkohami Willows. But, now I hope and so does your father, that you will take Corrine Leigh Shinkhami as your name." she finished, looking at her daughter.
"So, my name is Corrine Leigh Shinkohami." said Cory, looking up at Alanna. Alanna nodded and Cory said. "At least I'm not related to the Triplet's from hell." laughing. Alanna smiled and said. "Then, with Professor Rosa's permission, do you want to meet your father, Cory?" Cory looked at her mother and said. "Yes, Momma." Alanna smiled and said. "Harry, wanna come. You are Cory's boyfriend. You should meet her father." Harry grinned and said. "Sure, Professor." They then set off for Rosa's office.
Alanna knocked on Rosa's office door. "Enter Please." said a soft voice. They entered and saw Rosa with Rachel in her arms. Then Cory saw him. Sir Nealan of Queenscove! Rachel's daddy. Neal came forward. "Hello Alanna. Who's with you?" Cory and Harry stood forward. "Harry James Potter, sir." said Harry, shaking his hand as Cory stood back. Neal grinned at Harry and looked at Cory. "Paige Willows!" he said.
Cory stood back and said. "Nealan, I am not Paige Willows. My parents are not Keladry and Cleon Willows. I am Cory Leigh Shinkohami and my parents are Liam Shinkohami and Alanna the Lioness." Neal looked at who he thought of as Paige. "Cory ... I remember that name. Liam was always saying that his baby girl, Cory Leigh was at home, missing her daddy." said Neal, looking at Cory. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and stood. Rachel looked at her daddy. "Da" she said, smiling a toothless grin.
Neal went to hug her and said. "Say Mama." Rachel screwed up her face and said. "Bumba." They all laughed and Rachel giggled. "Rosa, may I take Cory and Harry to visit Liam. Cory wants to meet her father." said Alanna, looking at Rosa. Rosa nodded and Alanna took some Floo Powder from the pot on the mantle. They entered the fire place and Alanna dropped the powder shouting. "Hasbrouke House!" They spun and spun until they were forced head first out of the fire, into a large basement. The basement of Hasbrouke House.
Cory stood, brushing soot off and shivered. "Momma, I have a feeling we're not alone." she whispered to Alanna, who had just gotten up. "Yeah, I always get that feeling here. Let's leave this room and go upstairs." she said, pulling Harry to his feet. His glasses were broken and his hair mussed up. Cory fixed his glasses and gave them to Harry, who grinned at her. Cory suddenly heard a creap.
She spun around and shot purple sparks at the figure standing in the dark shadows. She looked up as the sparks disappeared at the figure's face. It looked familar. Daddy! she thought. He stepped forward and uttered one single word. "Cory." before he crumpled to the ground. He was covered in blood and cuts. Alanna gasped and Cory walked over to his body. "He's still breathing ... just. He needs healers quick. I can keep him breathing until he can get the proper medical attention." she said, raising her arms over his body. Purple flames enclosed him and her, licking around them. Alanna looked at her fiance and ran upstairs with Harry to get the Healer of Hasbrouke House. Liam suddenly gasped and choked in air. "My baby girl." he muttered, his voice fading like light. He was dying. Cory strengthened her power and sang a song she remembered from when she was little.
"Cory, I know you need your mum
And I know you need your dad,
But we're gone and trying to give you a life we never had.
Stop that crying, wipe those tears,
Daddy's here no more nightmares,
No more worries, rest your head, go to sleep.
Maybe one day you'll wake up and this will all be just a dream,
Now hush little Cory, and don't you cry
Everythings gunna be alright.
Daddy's gunna hold you through the night,
Mama's gunna be here to calm your fright.
Daddy's gunna buy you a Mockingbird,
I'm gunna give you the world.
But, If that Mockingbird don't sing and the world don't shine,
I'll hug you close and tell you that your mine."
--Modified Version of Eminem's Mockingbird--
Liam's breath was fading and a woman suddenly entered with Alanna and Harry. Cory felt her power leaving her into Liam and the woman suddenly took over when Cory fell to the ground, weak. "Thank you, Miss Cory. You might have helped save Master Liam's life. Mistress Alanna, can you get me hot water and herbs please." Alanna nodded and the woman said. "I am Eleanor Buriaim. I am the Healer of Hasbrouke House. Master Liam has been attacked ... by another WildMage, another Flamesmaster, a Death Eater at the very least."
Eleanor bent down close to his face and fed her power into his mouth. He coughed and spluttered blood. Eleanor mumbled. "Oh, Miss Cory, can you call me Ellie like everyone does." Cory nodded and conjured a stretcher. "Will you need this for Daddy, to take him upstairs?" she asked, using her wand to bring it close to him. Ellie nodded and lifted his body with magic. He grunted in pain and was on the stretcher. Ellie used her wand to levitate the stretcher upstairs while Cory followled. They walked through a beautiful home. They went upstairs and entered the master bedroom.
It was a pale yellow room with thick plushy carpet. Cory looked around at the four paster bed with yellow matching bed cloths. Ellie vanished the blood and covered the bed with a plastic sheet. Then, she used magic to levitate Liam onto the bed. He groaned and fell asleep. Alanna entered with the hot warer and herbs. Harry entered after her. Harry was slow. Cory hugged him as he grinned at her. Liam groaned and murmered. "Alanna ... Cory ... stay with me." Alanna gave the water and herbs to Ellie who made tea for Liam and Cory.
Then, Alanna walked over to the bed and took Liam's hand. His cuts and bruises were healed, but he was very weak. Ellie made the tea and gave one cup to Cory who drank for her strength. She felt her power returning and took the other cup to give to Liam. Alanna took it and cooled it with a spell. She got a spoon and hand fed the tea to Liam who moaned as the water slid down his throat. He had a bit of strength and said. "Alanna, Cory, stay here for a week or until I'm well ... please." Alanna smiled faintly at him and said. "I'll ask Rosa to let Cory have a few weeks off from school. Harry, do you want to stay with her also." Cory looked at Harry who looked at her and said. "If she want's me to." Cory hugged him and said. "Of course, I'll need company besides Momma and Daddy." Harry grinned and said. "Alanna, who will go get our things and tell Professor Rosa?" Alanna thought for a minute and said. "I shall. Harry I'll need your help though. Cory, stay with your father, he needs you." Cory nodded and they left.