Ardeth raises a brow in surprise as the dark eagle owl swoops down on his position at the rail of the boat. "Hello there," he greets the owl, pulling out a piece of dried fruit for the bird as it perches before him. He recognizes the neat handwriting of the British Potions Master, one of the few he had made friends with in his time at Hogwarts. He accepts the letter carefully, trading it for the fruit, before opening the letter.

Ardeth,

Something has come up regarding Harry Potter. The devices the Headmaster has on the boy were going wild in his office for a full night, and only stopped yesterday morning, if I am judging the time you will be receiving this letter accurately.

The headmaster had information that he was in Cairo with Petunia and Vernon Dursley, but as he had no contacts in the Egyptian Wizarding World, could not attempt to track him down. And before you even say anything about him trying the goblins, he received a… rather uncouth denial of assistance.

I am writing you to ask that you try to find the boy, and keep him and his family safe until I can come to retrieve them myself, if you wouldn't be so hard-pressed to do so.

We would also appreciate a clearer description of the events that the muggles are calling the 'Return of the Plagues' in Cairo all of the past few days. It is concerning, to say the least.

Now that the Headmaster's request is aside, how is Bahira doing? I was rather worried when you hinted at her strange dreams, and the appearance of an alternate personality. As you asked, I looked into the family history of both the Potter and Evans lines, and found that, as an infant, Lily was adopted from an Egyptian couple who were unable to care for their child. Do you suspect something magical in nature is what is causing this?

I hope to hear back that all is well.

Severus Snape
Potions Master
Professor of Hogwarts

He frowns thoughtfully at the letter, absentmindedly stroking the feathers between the owl's wings. He folds the letter carefully and replaces it into the envelope, before moving to sit at the small table further down the deck, making sure nobody is around as he pulls out ink, quill, and parchment to begin his own missive back to his friend.

Severus,

As it happens, Petunia and Vernon are dead, killed in the events of the past couple of days. I am currently escorting their remains and a small group back to England. We are on a ship there now, and I have only just gotten your letter.

Harry is alright, but I fear he has faced neglect and abuse at their hands. I thought Lily made it clear neither of her children were to even meet the Dursley family?

Their son, Dudley, survived the encounter as well. I must now try to find a woman he calls 'Aunt Marge' to take him in, but I've no clue of where to start, as she only ever visited his home, and he never went to hers before.

Bahira was also involved in the events surrounding the Plagues, as well as Harry, but I can say no more on the matter, at least not in a letter. As well as your concerns about her dreams and lineage, I will have to discuss with you in person.

Otherwise, she is doing alright, but we are both grieving the loss of Terrence. He was killed as well to ensure that a small number of us could survive to mount a rescue. I can tell you more when we meet, but only you and Minerva are to be present for the conversation… and regrettably enough, I have to insist on the Malfoys being present as well. They are allied to the family Harry and Bahira are going to be placed with.

Please do not question this. I cannot trust Dumbledore to keep these secrets quiet, not even if he is under an Oath to keep quiet, he would demand that the rest of the Order be informed, and I cannot allow this to happen. He is to be kept in the dark of the matters that I specify. Do not tell him of anything other than that Harry is safe.

I fear he made a grave error the night he left Harry to the Dursleys.

We will be arriving in the evening tomorrow, if all is well. I will contact you again through Lucius when and where to meet us.

Ardeth Bey

Casting a quick drying charm on the parchment, he folds the letter carefully, before returning to the owl. "Take this to Severus when he is alone, and is unwatched please. The sooner the better." The large bird hoots softly before taking flight once more, returning to the Potions Master's personal home on Spinner's End. Shaking his head, he turns to go to the cabin he shares with Harry, as the boy had taken a liking to him almost immediately, when he spots a glowing coming from under the door. He slowly opens the door, finding said child sitting up in his bed, staring at the little ball of light he has conjured in his hands. "Couldn't sleep, Harry?" he asks gently.

The child still jumps slightly, and the light dims for a moment until he registers who has spoken, and it brightens once more. "Not really. But I wanted to try making a blue light, and I can't figure it out."

Ardeth can't help the chuckle that escapes him. "Bahira… Ivy complained about making the light turn yellow, of all colors. I asked her once how she could get the blue so easily, and she gave me a very simple answer." He moves slowly, sitting next to Harry on the bed.

"What was it?" he asks the adult eagerly, green eyes glowing with excitement only highlighted even more by the pure white light in his hands.

"She thought of the Nile, and the sky," he informs the boy with a soft smile, seeing that this twin is so like Lily, with most of James's features. Especially the untamable hair he had fought with on Bahira until it had grown out until she could properly brush her hair and braid it. "Your reaction when I came in, Harry… why did the light dim?"

He nibbles his lower lip shyly, looking down slightly before meeting his gaze once more. "Aunt Tuney didn't like me using… magic, and Uncle Vernon always hit me if Dudley said something weird happened," he answers quietly.

Ardeth sighs, gaining yet another confirmation for his theory, at least more clear now that Harry is still so young, rather than being much older, when it would have been more difficult to get him to admit to something going on at home. "Harry, magic is an incredible gift, and your parents would be so very proud of you for all you have stayed strong through. Both you and your little sister."

Harry smiles at the mention of his sister. "I don't know her much, but I love her so much. I have to protect my sister, right?"

He smiles at the brave claim the little boy has made. "Yes, but until you can do it alone, you will only have to send for me, and I will come as fast as I can." He gazes at the soft light in the boy's small hands. "Now, can you try to make the light turn blue?"

The emerald eyes flutter closed, and a look of peace takes place. The light flickers a little, before slowly darkening, a shade at a time until it is a soft, watery blue. The eyes open slowly, and he smiles at his accomplishment, before the light fades away with a giant yawn.

The adult nudges the child to lay back down, taking the circular glasses and setting them on the small table before pulling the blankets up to Harry's chin, making sure he is comfortable before moving back to his own bed. "Goodnight, Ardeth," the child murmurs, already fully unconscious.

"Goodnight, Harry," he whispers, laying back in his own bed and dropping off into his own, surprisingly peaceful, dreams.