"I'M A WIZARD! Jaime, I'm a wizard!"
"Oomph!"
Jaime fell right onto the stone floor a mere second after being barreled into by Harry. Luckily, his head hit the thick fur in the center of his room and Harry fell on top of him, his dark green eyes wide with excitement and wonder.
Harry grinned sheepishly, ran a hand through his slightly longer hair and shuffled off of him. "Sorry about that."
"Not a problem. What were you saying? Lannisport couldn't hear you."
Harry glared at him.
Jaime grinned then pulled Harry into a hug, or was about to when a cautious hoot drew his attention. A beautiful, white owl was perched on his bed, its white feathers glowing in the sunlight that came through the balcony. A big trunk was next to his bed too, one that didn't look familiar.
"What is an owl doing in my room?"
"That's Hedwig," Harry explained hesitantly, happily. "Isn't she beautiful? Hedwig, this is Jaime."
The snowy owl hooted, dipping her beak in what was almost a nod.
"You have an owl?"
"A half giant got her for me. Oh! Jaime, it's awesome! We went shopping and I found out the wizarding world all knows about me and well, apparently my parents didn't die in an accident…"
"Wait a minute. Wizarding world?"
Harry nodded, his eyes wide and lit up with excitement.
Jaime watched as Harry looked him over then raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the nice clothes?"
"King Aerys and Prince Rhaegar are coming to Casterly Rock, any minute now. I was just getting ready. Cersei helped me dress. There's going to be a tourney at Lannisport to celebrate the birth of Prince Viserys."
"What about Joanna?"
Jaime turned away, glancing towards the door. He could already hear the hundreds of horses walking in through the Lion's Mouth. "She died in childbirth a few months after you left."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I loved her," Harry murmured, voice dropping in volume and Jaime heard Harry shuffle forward to stop next to him. "Did the kid make it?"
"We have a new brother, Tyrion," Jaime spoke, hearing the warning bell which meant everyone should be gathering in the courtyard to greet the royal family. He could also hear the many servants bustling around the rock, cleaning and getting the rooms ready for Aerys and Rhaegar. "Come on. You're going to want to see them. Do you still have the clothes that my mother gave you?"
Harry shook his head. "I…"
Jaime watched as Harry turned around, walked over to the trunk and whispered something. The trunk popped open and Harry reached his hand in, his entire hand to Jaime's wonder, and pulled out the clothes that Joanna had given him. "Ahaha. I know I put them in here somewhere. I'm glad that my trunk came. And look!"
Harry drew out a long, thin piece of wood and held it out so that Jaime could look.
"What is it?"
Harry's eyes lit up with excitement. "It's a wand! It's my wand! It's made of holly wood and a phoenix feather and it's mine! I don't have to share it with Dudley!"
"Should Hedwig stay here?" Harry asked, all dressed up as a Lannister. Though he didn't look it, his wild black hair and the scar on his forehead standing out so much. "Do you think it would attract too much attention?"
Jaime looked over at Hedwig, who hooted curiously up at him. Harry held out his arm and Hedwig took off and alighted on his shoulder.
"I don't think so. Everyone will be looking at the king and prince. She can go with you," Jaime finally said, his light green eyes narrowed in thought. "She'll probably have to stay with the ravens. We can go there afterward."
They walked out of Jaime's room and hurried out of the keep, falling into step with Cersei and a Septa, who was carrying a three year old boy, one whom Harry didn't recognize. The boy had mismatched eyes, one green and one black, and hair that was half blond, half black. The kid was also short though big around the middle.
"Is that your brother?" Harry whispered, pointing to the boy in the septa's arms. Hedwig trilled lightly on his shoulder, craning her neck around to take in everything. Her claws dug into his shoulder as she tried to keep still. Cersei narrowed her eyes at Harry, her eyes widening slightly at the owl on his shoulder.
"Yes. His name is Tyrion and he killed our mother," Cersei hissed, glaring at the younger boy. "When did you come back?"
Harry flinched. "How'd he kill your mother? Jaime, you said she died in childbirth. That's not his fault."
"It is," Cersei retorted then walked ahead, leaving the two of them to walk with her friends.
"She calls him a devil boy," Jaime whispered, rolling his eyes as they finally made it to the courtyard. Harry could see the Lion's Mouth a few miles ahead, the entrance to the keep and its' natural defensive walls and towers. He shielded his eyes from the sun as they stepped out from under the keep's roofs, enjoying the sun after being in foggy London for a while. And the sound of the ocean even carried all the way here but just faintly... "I for one agree with you but Father and Cersei… They haven't been the same since Mother died."
Lord Tywin and several Lannister bannermen were already arrayed in front of the keep. Ser Benedict was there too and Maester Creylen was standing next to the master at arms, seeming to sigh in relief when Jaime arrived. Though Harry did catch Lord Tywin looking over to them, his eyes widening at Harry's appearance.
Harry was about to whisper something to Jaime when he heard the sound of hoof beats, hundreds of them. His eyes widened at the sight before them, of the beautiful horses and their riders approaching the keep. There was the kingsguard, men cloaked in white, as they rode alongside the small wheelhouse that the king was in. There was who he assumed to be Prince Rhaegar, the silver prince. The crown prince was beautiful, his long length silver hair flowing down to his shoulders. Rhaegar was surveying the crowd of people, peering at Lord Tywin Lannister and then looking over to Cersei and Jaime.
"How old is he?" Harry whispered, elbowing Jaime to get his attention. Hedwig chirped on his shoulder at the quick movement and Harry steadied his shoulder, stroking her wings. Hedwig leaned into his hand, enjoying the petting, and Harry grinned.
"He's ten and seven," Jaime whispered back. "Seven years older than us."
Harry nodded, looking out over the crowd too and seeing someone standing next to Lord Tywin that he hadn't met before. There was also a woman standing on the far side of Tywin, long blond hair and light green eyes. It looked like the two men and one woman were related, all three providing a united front. "Is that your uncle?"
"Yes. Uncle Gerion. He's my favorite," Jaime explained quietly. "He'll probably want to meet you. I think you'll like him too. Aunt Genna will want to meet you too."
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood up and he felt like someone was staring right at him. He turned back to look at the Prince, who was staring right at him. Prince Rhaegar's eyes were intent on him, occasionally looking at Hedwig, then looking straight at him again. Harry raised an eyebrow back, tilting his head in bewilderment. Why would the prince be looking at him when probably the Lannisters were more interesting, especially Cersei? He knew that Cersei was infatuated with the prince and was suppose to be marrying him when she was of marrying age, whatever that was. Lord Tywin had talked about it a few times when Harry had asked him questions the first time he was here.
But Prince Rhaegar was still staring at him.
"Do you know Prince Rhaegar?" Jaime questioned, keeping his voice low.
Harry shook his head, glancing to where the twins were looking at him intently. Cersei was looking at him like she was jealous, her green eyes narrowed. Jaime was just curious and… there was just a little protectiveness in those light green eyes, unlike Cersei. "No. The only time I've been her was three years ago and I was with your family the whole time."
"Maybe he's staring at Hedwig," Jaime remarked, shrugging.
"Perhaps. Have there been any wargs in House Targaryen's history? That's what you thought I could be."
"No. At least, I don't think so. We can go ask Maester Creylen afterward."
A few days later, they finally got to go see the maester, having spent the past few days entertaining the guests and watching the jousts. Hundreds of knights had enlisted in the tourney, to celebrate the birth of Prince Rhaegar's young brother. And Harry had stayed away from the prince and the king, having been scared away from the royal family after having the prince stare at him the first day.
Harry had gotten to use the same room that he had used the first time too and spent at least some time going over the books that Hagrid had bought him for his first year. Jaime had declared him unusual for a boy but not too uncommon. The Prince apparently loved to read too and then Harry had stuck out his tongue at Jaime and Hedwig whapped him with one of her wings.
Besides, Hogwarts sounded wonderful. Harry had yet to grow tired of Casterly Rock, with all of its nooks and crannies and had even found one hidden stairwell that had not been used in hundreds of year, not since the Lannister kings had been in residence. And he had taken to bringing Jaime with him every time he went exploring. It was more fun that way, hearing Jaime complain every single time when Harry pleaded with him and then say yes a minute later.
"Is your owl having a nice stay in the rookery?" Jaime asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked over to the maester's tower. The courtyard was covered by Targaryen bannermen and knights who were stretching and sparring. There were two kingsguard by the entrance to the keep and then the rest were always with the king. One always stuck to Prince Rhaegar's side and Jaime had told him that that man was Ser Arthur Dayne, the greatest knight of the realm. "Why'd your friend give you an owl in the first place?"
"I think wizards and witches use them to get mail," Harry answered, as they started up the steps. The maester's tower was built into the rock and wasn't really a tower but he called it one. "But Hedwig's become my friend."
"After me?" Jaime confirmed.
Harry snorted. "After you, I mean."
Harry led the way up the tower, climbing the stone steps and peeking out into the Stone Garden every so often. He could feel a strange hint of… something coming from the godswood below them, maybe it was magic. He had felt the same thing when Hagrid had taken him into Diagon Alley. "I'm glad that Hedwig could stay here. I don't think she would have liked it in my room, with no fresh air."
Harry knocked on the door, hearing Maester Creylen walk around through the stone door.
"Come in."
Harry pushed open the door and grinned when Hedwig jumped up into the air and flew right over to him. "Hey, girl. You doing okay?"
Hedwig chirped quietly, bemusedly, as she turned to look at Jaime behind them. Harry turned around too, staring right at Jaime and his grin. "What?"
"You're the woods wizard of Casterly Rock."
Harry glared, crossed his arms.
"Jaime? Harry? What is it this time?"
"I wanted to know if there have been wargs in House Targaryen before?" Harry asked, more than a little hesitantly.
Maester Creylen eyed them both, trying to tell if they were up to something. Ever since Harry had come back, the boy had been full of mischief and every time he had been caught, Jaime had been with him. The heir to Casterly Rock had said he was there just to keep Harry safe but Lord Tywin had been able to see through Jaime's excuse, a little ghost of a grin on Tywin's face.
Of course, with the king here and with no Hand, it was all over the castle. Lord Tywin would be going east, to be Aerys' Hand of the King again.
"The prince was staring at him and the bird, when they came," Jaime explained. "Harry doesn't know what to make of it and nor do I."
Creylen shrugged, his chain jingling a little, turning to look at all of his books. "Wargs are more often of the northern houses. Lord Howland Reed would be the person to contact, if not Lord Rickard Stark. I have nothing here with me that could explain wargs and I know House Targaryen has no wargs. Dragonriders, yes. Wargs, no."
Harry blinked. "Dragons? There used to be dragons in Westeros?"
"Hmm, yes. Hundreds of years ago certainly. Now there are only skulls in King's Landing."
"Harry, no. No."
Harry turned to look at Jaime, seeing Hedwig fly off of his shoulder and go to Jaime's. "What?"
"You were thinking it."
"I wasn't thinking anything!"
"You were thinking of traveling to King's Landing to see the skulls." Jaime started at Hedwig landing on his shoulder but his lips twitched up into a small grin and he reached an arm up to stroke her wings.
"They sound awesome! How could you not go see them?! Wait..."
"What?"
"I have books. There are dragons in my world, I think."
Jaime's eyes widened and Maester Creylen's face went pale. The maester didn't know much of where Harry was from but he knew Lord Tywin would want to know that piece of information.
"First owls and now dragons. What's next? Giants?" Jaime asked, looking from Creylen to Harry.
"Oh, there are giants," Harry answered, his lips twitching up into a smile. "Hagrid is a half giant and his mother was a giant herself. That's what he told me. Are there giants here?"
"Beyond the Wall though they aren't real. No one's seen one for hundreds of years and no one's seen the White Walkers, thankfully. Those haven't been seen in thousands of years."
Harry raised an eyebrow, looking at Jaime with a question in his eyes.
"White walkers are monsters," Jaime replied, answering Harry's unasked question. "Born of ice, I think. Be glad that they only exist in tales. My mother used to tell stories of white walkers."
Harry shivered. "Well, I hope you're right about that. I wouldn't want to meet a white walker ever."
The next day, Harry was taking the time to go see the godswood. The first time he had been here, he had not visited it and now there was that strange energy that was pulling him towards it. There was a chill in the air, winter coming soon to Westeros. Autumn was going to be short, according to Maester Creylen, and this tourney in Lannisport was the last one before winter. Harry didn't quite understand the seasons here but he had gotten the feeling that winter could last a long time. The sun was even now going down on the horizon, a good two hours before it usually did.
Hedwig was swooping about in the air above him, winging her way from tree to tree. The ravens had mostly gotten used to her presence from what Maester Creylen had told him and some of the ravens thought she was a potential mate. Though Hedwig didn't think so. Harry grinned at her happy hoots and turned the last corner only to stop, his eyes widening at the sight before him.
The crown prince of Westeros was standing right before the weirwood heart tree, his hands at his sides and his shoulders drooped unhappily. Harry stared at Prince Rhaegar, seeing his long silver hair that the prince had not tied back, and the pale skin. At Hedwig's loud chirp, Prince Rhaegar started a little and turned around, his eyes widening at both the owl and the young man.
"Your Grace, I'm sorry to interrupt you," Harry offered. "I didn't know you were here."
Rhaegar took a few steps towards him then stopped, looking him over. "You were the one with the owl then."
Harry nodded hesitantly, looking up into Rhaegar's purple eyes. "Her name's Hedwig, Your Grace."
"She's a beautiful bird. You are the one that Lord Tywin talked about, the young boy who was not killed by a lion."
Harry's eyes widened. "You know about that?"
Rhaegar's lips twitched up into a small grin, his eyes still a little wistful, a little haunted. Harry wondered what the prince had been thinking of before he had been interrupted. "Everyone knows. Harry James Potter, the boy who was pushed into a lion pit and was not eaten immediately."
"It's cause I'm a wizard," Harry said, shrugging. "I think. I'm not really sure."
Rhaegar's eyes narrowed. "Wizard?"
"I can do magic! Or, I will once I learn. There's a school."
"Magic?"
Harry nodded. "Maybe I can bring a dragon for you next time I come. Maester Creylen said that all the dragons from your house died out hundreds of years ago."
Rhaegar's eyes widened so much that Harry giggled, drawing his wand and holding it up for the prince. "See? My wand."
"Harry?!"
He turned at Jaime's voice then glanced back to the prince. Rhaegar was still looking at him like he was seeing a ghost. "I gotta go! It's time for the midday meal. See you later?"
Rhaegar nodded faintly, like he was still trying to process Harry's offer. "I would like that, Harry."
Harry's eyes narrowed at Rhaegar's voice as the prince sighed then he turned around and ran off, with Hedwig following him. Ser Arthur stepped up and snorted.
"That is quite a boy," Arthur remarked.
"He is indeed."
"You learned where you received that scar, didn't you?" Jaime whispered, looking up at Harry as the other boy came rushing into his room. It was half past midnight a few days later and since Harry hadn't come rushing into Jaime's room for the past few nights, he had figured that Harry's nightmares were over.
"Yes. My parents didn't die in an accident, Jaime," Harry murmured, crawling into the bed as soon as Jaime lifted up the furs. "They were killed by a dark lord, someone named Voldemort. He tried to kill me too."
"Except he didn't though," Jaime said, turning over to look at Harry.
Harry shook his head. "No. But Voldemort tried. He cast a killing curse at me and that's why I have this scar."
"Killing curse? There's such a thing as a killing curse?"
"Apparently." Jaime reached out a hand to trace a finger over Harry's scar, feeling the raised skin of the old scar then pulled away after a second or two.
"Is there any particular reason why it's shaped as a lightning bolt?"
"No. Or maybe. No one has ever survived the killing curse except me," Harry remarked. "So there's nothing to compare it to."
"You could say you got it from an arrow," Jaime spoke, grinning slightly. "It's an interesting scar and it would attract girls. Besides, people would all think you were strong enough to survive an arrow through your forehead."
"Why would I want to attract girls? That's a grownup thing. I survived the killing curse for some reason. And everyone stared at me when I went shopping two weeks ago in the wizarding world. I don't like it."
Jaime shrugged. "Well, it attracts me. I can easily pick you out of a crowd."
Harry snorted and threw his pillow at him. Jaime threw it back. It was just about to hit when it stopped midair, hovering between them. Jaime's eyes widened and Harry snatched it out of the air sheepishly, like he thought he was about to get reprimanded.
"That was your magic?"
"I think so. Unless you can do magic?"
"No. I'm not the woods wizard of Casterly Rock. You are."
Harry watched as Prince Rhaegar defeated Ser Barristan Selmy in the tourney, cheered loudly for him even though the prince lost to Ser Arthur Dayne. Jaime was sitting next to him, grinning widely as Ser Arthur urged his horse towards the stands that the king was sitting in.
"Prince Rhaegar is so handsome," Cersei whispered from Jaime's other side. "I can't wait to marry him."
"Are you already betrothed to him?" Harry asked, watching as Arthur and Rhaegar shook hands. Jaime was watching both the prince and his kingsguard, his green eyes lit up with awe.
"Yes. Father is suppose to discuss it with the king tonight."
"I heard one of the lions is about to give birth," Harry spoke, looking back to Jaime. "Do you want to go watch?"
Jaime snorted, rolling his eyes. "Harry, it is not my idea of fun to go watch something give birth."
"I already talked to your father though. He's going to let the lions go afterward," Harry said, crossing his arms. "And your aunt agrees with me. Besides, that lion pit is not suitable."
"What, are you actually a warg?" Cersei questioned, narrowing her eyes at him then glancing over to where Prince Rhaegar was talking with Uncle Gerion. "The Prince has been watching you a lot lately. Did you meet him?"
Jaime turned to look at Harry, raising an eyebrow.
"We… talked, briefly," Harry answered, looking between the twins. "I interrupted his visit to the godswood a few days ago, that's all."
"Harry!"
"What? He seemed nice and he complimented Hedwig."
Jaime elbowed him and Harry elbowed Jaime back, trying to contain his laughter when Cersei rolled her eyes at the two of them.
"He looked… lonely," Harry whispered.
Harry ran down the steps towards the lion pit, Hedwig following in the air through the tunnels. Jaime followed too, having been roped into following Harry, like always. Over the past two weeks, he was more and more often following Harry, not his sister. Cersei had been upset at that, used to Jaime following her around and taking his place in sword lessons occasionally.
Harry was just so… easy to please and with his heart on his sleeve, easy to know when to back off and when to question. Cersei… wasn't like that. Jaime didn't know if Cersei was going to yell at him one minute and then almost kiss him the next.
"Jaime! Come on! The lionness is almost done!"
Jaime grinned and hurriedly ran after Harry, who was already down there. The smell of blood and birth wafted through the tunnels and he finally arrived in the lion pits, seeing Harry actually in the lion cage with the lionness. Aunt Genna was watching over him, albeit not in the actual cage, an interested frown on her lips.
Harry was stroking the golden fur of the lion, whispering soothing things like the lion was a person. Hedwig was perched on Aunt Genna's shoulder, probably not ready to follow Harry into a lion cage.
There were already four lion cubs nestled between the lionness' stomach, searching for milk. The lionness was mewling in pain, its body curling and then uncurling, pushing the last lion cub out.
"Harry, are you sure you're safe in there?" Genna questioned. "A mother lion is very protective over her young."
"I'm perfectly safe, my lady," Harry retorted.
Genna narrowed her eyes but then shrugged. "Jaime, you're friend is quite the lion himself."
Jaime nodded, grinning wider. "I'm used to it."
A pained roar drew their attention just as a bloody lion cub came out of the lionness' body. The cub was small but already loud, mewling and looking for its siblings.. Harry started at the noise, covering his ears briefly before hurrying over to help the animal, gathering up the cub and cradling it.
"Looks like the runt of the litter," Jaime spoke, his heart pounding in his chest. "Harry, do you think I could come in?"
"Uh, I think so. Just no sudden movements."
Jaime nodded and stepped in, squeezing through the bars and sitting at Harry's side. He grabbed the fur that Harry had used to clean up the other cubs and gently started to clean the smallest, uncovering wholly white fur. The lionness peered up at him, growled lowly then sniffed her cubs, nudging two of them over to drink from her.
"White lion?" Harry asked, his eyes widening. "Is that…"
"There are white lions in Westeros," Genna remarked, her eyes wide. "Most are just escaped hrakkars from Essos but I don't think there are any here."
Harry peered down at it, stroking its newly cleaned white fur. The cub purred under Harry's fingers, seeming to lean into him. Hedwig chirped from outside the cage, a questioning hoot if Jaime had ever heard one. The lionness next to them peered up into Harry's eyes then stood up a little, not dislodging the cubs drinking from her, and nudged the white lion cub further into Harry's hands with her muzzle.
"I think she's trying to say she wants you to take the cub," Genna murmured, quiet with awe.
"But I'm no… I don't even know what to do with a lion cub!" Harry exclaimed, looking at Jaime then at Genna. "I could sleep down here though until it's done feeding. I don't even know if it's male or female."
Jaime pointed at the little tufts of fur around the cub's head, feeling the warmth from the lion cub. "I think it's male, judging by the short mane. What are you going to name it?"
Harry stroked the cub's head, lightly petting the soft fur. The cub whined and looked up at him, its' dark golden eyes seeming to study him. "I read something in one of those books that I bought. One of the school's houses is called Gryffindor. I think I'll name the cub, Godric."
For the next few days, Harry slept down in the lion pits, taking care of his new lion cub. During the day, he watched the rest of the tourney, with Jaime and Cersei. Though Cersei didn't watch anymore after the news came that she would not be marrying Rhaegar. Jaime's twin had gone running off after their Aunt Genna told her that the king didn't approve of the match.
Lord Tywin came to look at the cub after the midday meal the day after, not saying a word for a few minutes and then leaving. Harry didn't know what to think of that except that he had definitely noticed a difference between the Tywin that had Joanna and this one.
Little Tyrion also came down but he was much more interested in the lions. Harry had seen the looks that Cersei and Tywin had given the child and had promised to look after him. He knew what those looks meant and Jaime did too, from hearing how the Dursley's treated Harry. Jaime was in fact the only member of the family that enjoyed Tyrion's presence.
Harry never saw the prince again, for the royal family left a day after the tourney ended. And Harry went back to England three days after it had ended.
The Dursleys were so surprised at his new friend that Hedwig had shooed them off with a flap of her wings. Even his owl was protective of their new friend, Godric the white lion.
