Disclaimer: I don't own it; just having a go at fanfiction to see if I can em-provvvee my Eeng-lish.
The True Journey of Harry Potter
Chapter 16 – The quest part 4 – meeting at last
It took Harry quite a while to really calm down. He just woke up feeling thrown left and right, up and down. He panicked at first. Then, it hit him that he was indeed on the bed in the cabin of the magical boat, the scene on the screen showing a storm outside, heavy raining and lightening everywhere. Dark cloud moved in a fast pace. Being a magical boat, this little transportation held itself through the force of nature, the power to destroy anything in its way.
Half an hour passed, the boy still sat on his bed watching the scene fascinated. It was not every day you would be in this situation and lived to tell the tale. Harry searched in his backpack looking for his journal; never called it a diary, because it sounded so girly. Grabbing a pen along, he started his latest entry.
Day 12 of Himabhanta quest
I just woke up to find that I'm in the middle of a storm. Guess what, it's so cool! Well, I must admit that I was terrified at first. Still, the strong wind is just indescribable. I guess it might have something to do with the safety of the cabin I'm in. If not, I'd have freaked out by now. Hahaha!
After yesterday's event, meeting the Prince of Nagas, I guess I'm looking forward to the third tribe of the guardians. Felix warned me about the Head-guard named Alumpire, without telling me the reason. The old fire-bird must be too paranoid. I've read all the books while trekking through Shimpli and now I'm bored out of my mind. Sitting and watching the endless sea is not very interesting after all.
Yesterday afternoon, I left off with the idea of taking a sunbath. Guess what, it never happened. The sun was too bright and damn hot. (Sorry Aunt Marge.) Anyway, I thought I'd try it today in the morning before noon and now I'm in the middle of the storm and I can't do that, can I? Maybe, I should re-read all the books again. Hmm… might do that later. Now, it's time for breakfast.
Closing the journal Harry started preparing himself for the day. He did not know when the boat would reach its first destination, but he should better be ready.
-o0o-
A loud ping rang through the house of Dursley causing everyone who was at the dining table for their dinner to look up and the only boy of the house ran to the living room to retrieve the copy of Harry's journal. Before Harry left for his trip, they had bought a pair of blank journals and with the help of some witchcraft and runes, they are linked together. The problem was that it was only a one-way link, only the original one could be entered. The copy was merely a receiving end of the entries from the original, which was the one with Harry. At least, the family would be informed of his journey and Harry promised to write down at least an entry each day of this trip.
The first week was quite boring, at least for Dudley, who had imagines an Indiana Jones' adventure along. However, when the panther incident happened, the adults were both laughing and worrying for their boy. The Nymph encounter was just as weird, but funny to say the least. However, the dementor visit was the most worrisome causing Marge and Petunia fainted and demanded to get the boy back when Penerelle made a visit the next day. Poor Granny Penny was in shock and went back to Avalon to demand it herself. To no avail, was all that she could tell her great-granddaughter.
Having read the day's short entry, Dudley let out a sigh. When his Aunt Marge asked for the reason, he just told her that it was a good thing his cousin decided to re-read the books, "'cause you don't want to know what he can do when Harry's bored."
When asked of what his cousin could do, Dudley just grinned and cheekily said, "He might jump out of the boat and surfing or skiing." To the adult's horror, Dudley added, "without a board and a very thin sling."
Harry, though being a quiet one and the studious, was adventurous and always did something unexpected. Dudley once found his cousin playing the computer games wildly and much too risky even to Dudley's standard. Harry's hidden love of actions and challenges was not very well-known, only his three friends knew it. Dudley kept his promise though, to never say a word about some secret trips they had made over the last few years since Hermione had joined them and lately Justin was included in their little adventures.
"Is there anything you want to tell us, Dudley?" asked Aunt Marge looking at him suspiciously.
Caught off-guard, Dudley shook his head mumbling 'No'. His father, who was very quiet that morning, just looked at him chuckling with a glint of pride in his eyes.
-o0o-
On the second day of his boat-trip, Harry decided to practice meditation and reinforced his occlumency shield. After making sure that his shield was firm and intact, Harry moved on to spread his sense. Using magic like radar to sense all that surrounded him. He felt the air in the cabin, the feeling of magic in almost everything in the chamber where he was, and then slowly his magical sense expanded out of the cabin. The flag pole had a little magic in it, something to do with its function, he guessed. What surprised him was the flag itself. The flag was made of some kind of silks and the symbol of infinity was embroidered with something different. It did not feel like thread of any kind, instead, there was too much magic in that part of the flag. Harry made a decision to check it out once he reached the shoreline of Arama.
Above the boat, there was nothing in the sky, but the clouds. Switching direction, his magic moved down in the water, there, Harry's sense was bombarded with great many things. Water plants were radiating mild magical signature, fish swarmed in all directions either in big group or a small ones. Many sea creatures were swimming carelessly and Harry felt calm and peaceful letting his sense flowed with them.
Suddenly, his sense felt like being watched. Harry knew he was safe in his boat, however, it was not quite reassuring when the 'eyes' seemed to follow his sense' every move. His physical body was secured in the boat; it was sure as safe as it could be. But, since that 'eyes' was watching, he could not be so sure if it did not know about his body. Harry retreated back, let his sense down and opened his eyes. The boy let out a sigh and wondering what was that.
-o0o-
A few miles away on a lone island, Master Fane was smiling at the boy's act. He was sure not many people could feel being watched. This was just confirming the boy's potential. The mysterious man turned around to look at the only thing on this small land, a stone figure of a beautiful woman. The grey stone that had been here for half a century looking very sad; its eyes seemed to be lowered down with resignation. The image brought back a stab in Master Fane's heart. Five hundred years would be a very long time for everyone, but for him, it was like yesterday when this particular person was running around him trying to get him laugh along with her sister… the sister who had just passed away, not with old age since they did not age like normal humans, but with deep agonized mind. The twin sisters who once were inseparable, now one stood cursed as a stone, while another was no more. He was just glad that before Gadru was gone, she had called for him and said those releasing words. He could simply just let Vinta free this instant, but what good could come with it. Using this as another test for the boy would be more productive.
"Just a little while longer now, little Vinta," the Mystic murmured caressing the lovely face of the woman he thought as a little sister, "He'll be here soon."
-o0o-
Harry lied sun-bathing on the boat. He had just spent a few hours do something his cousin had predicted, skiing. The transfigured ski-board was beside his body glistering against the sun. This was something Harry had not done before in his life. He knew it was dangerous and would not be approved by his aunts for sure. Well, who would know about it and he was not going to tell, especially not writing it down. The first few tries was disaster. Harry could not hold the string firm enough. It was good that he had another string tightly fastened around his waist. After being dragged while trying to breath at the surface of the water for a while, he wandlessly summoned the board to him and tried again. One thing that harry was good at, apart from… almost everything, was that he was full of temptation and endeavor.
It was then that Harry heard it, a beautiful voice singing.
Come to me, my little warrior,
Search for me, my little hero.
Have no fear, my little master,
For this is where you're fated to go.
Greatness awaits, O young prince,
Lives can wait for your adventure.
Love awaits, O young child,
Come to me, my little boy.
Harry felt lightheaded. He was like in a trance searching franticly for the source of the voice. There seemed to be some kind of fog surrounding him. He did not know where it came from, it was surely not real. But the urge, something in him wanted to look for the voice, while his consciousness alerted him of something amiss. The battle of his mind was going on for a few second. It ended with the triumph of the desire. He wanted to know who sang, he wanted to go to the voice.
Then, he saw her, a nice-looking smiling woman stood alone on a stone. She was playing a harp. Her long red hair flew with the breeze of the sea wind. Her emerald eyes, just like his, looked at him lovingly.
"Mum?" Harry let out, eyes watering uncontrollably.
The lady on the stone nodded encouragingly. She waved calling him, the music did not stop. Harry was overwhelmed with happiness, longing, sadness, hurt and a glint of something that Dudley would run for his life when he saw it. It was anger. Someone was playing with his mind. His mother was dead; Harry knew it and understood it. It was one of the lessons he had with his great-grandmother to overcome the lost and grievance. How dare someone do this to him?
Harry lifted his arms as though wanting to leap to the person, but instead, he pointed both his index fingers and 2 beams of red light shot out straight to the imposer. There was no incantation, no spell, just pure anger infused in his magic.
The music stopped, the lights reached their target right in the heart, or where it should be. The imposer shrieked screeching loudly. Suddenly everything became clear, the fog was gone, the stone was no more and the imposer vanished. Harry could see the endless sea once again, the sun shone brightly above him.
Up ahead, Harry saw the island, his destination. Two figures were on the lone island and Harry noticed that he was not in proper clothing. The boy shook off all emotions that was in his mind at the moment and ran back entering the cabin to change. The map that was indicating his path was showing that he was just a few yards away from the place he was meant to. Once done with his gears and all accessories, Harry went up again. Emotion and posture under control, Harry stood elegantly waiting the boat to reach the shore.
Only a meter away, Harry saw that one of the two figures he saw was not alive; it was kind of a sculpture, so live-like. Another figure was a man around mid-twenties, but those eyes… they were so old very similar to the eyes of his grandparents. Something told Harry this person was not entirely human. He dared not use his sense to feel the person magic, afraid it would offend the man. The boat stopped and Harry jumped out of it.
"Greeting, Honorable one," said the boy bowing.
"Holy goodness, may your days be prosperous and safe, young traveler," came the reply, which Harry repeated the same words back to the older one.
They stood in silent looking at each other. Well, for the most part, the older one just looked at the boy with his purple eyes twinkling madly while our little hero stood there nervously. It was then that Harry recognized it. These eyes were the eyes that followed him when he was surveying the sea yesterday.
Master Fane's lip twitched. It became a small smile in the corner of this mouth… a smirk then. "You recalled, young traveler?" asked the Mystic.
"Yes, sir," Harry replied flushing.
"I've been waiting for you, young boy," said Master Fane. "I am Fayra Fane Raj. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Harry was astounded to receive such open introduction. Was it his real name? Was it just an alias for the meeting? Harry thought not. He composed himself before returned his own introduction. "My name's Harry James Potter, honored one. The pleasure's all mine."
"Are you sure that was all of your names, little Potter?" asked the mysterious man signaling the stone that was forming at his feet. Harry was shocked. He had not lied, surely it was his name, just not all of the names he had. "Do not lie, young Harry James. Partial true doesn't work here," said the man shaking his head teasingly.
So, the man had said his true name. Or was it just that Harry was in his territory where only he could lie while the guest must said only truth? Harry looked down in shame. Should he say all his names? Of course, it would not have been all of his family names, but the ones he really did belong to or know of. Because even Harry himself had no idea how many names he bore. "I apologize, honorable one. My full name is Harry James Ambrosius Flamel Evans Potter," Harry tried again. Once his full name was said, the stone seemed to lower itself to the ground, however, he still could not move his feet. Harry's eyes went wide. Was this man friend or foe?
"True, but still partial… Can't blame you there, can I?" muttered the man in front of him.
Harry was curious. He was sure saying his full name or those he was aware of. "Pardon me, sir. But I said my full name. How come it's still partial? And… ah… I can't move."
Master Fane smiled wider. "Have no fear, young Harry James. It shall release you once you think thoroughly and said your real full name. Some hints, perhaps?" Seeing the boy nodded, Master Fane continued with the hint, "Why are you here, young traveler?"
"So," said Harry pondering, "My full name is Harry James Ambrosius Intra Flamel Evans Potter?" he finished his name uncertainly.
Still, the ground held his feet firmly. How? He said it already. What was the trick? Was he being played just like a little while ago?
Master Fane shook his head saying, "It's true enough, but are you sure, young Harry James?" The boy's emotion was about to surface and Master Fane did not need it. So, the elder gave another hint. "Think carefully, young magic user. Think of what your ancestors told you about your families' history. What's wrong with your name? How many should you really belong to? Once you are right, you shall be released and I will be back." With that, Master Fane left spreading his wings out of thin air causing Harry to startle and flew away. This man had wings. Was he an angle? No, this was not the time to think about it. Harry focused on the task at hand. Grandmother Morgana had told him that mainly he belonged to 4 families, but never mentioned those names. So, Harry had thought they were the Ambrosius, Flamel, Evans and Potter. If Intra was one of them, then one of those first four was not meant there. But which one could that be?
'Families' history?' the boy thought carefully. If the history was to be considered, then he should know it. Surely, his grandmother loved telling stories especially the stories about their family lines. Right, family lines, Ambrosius became Evans to avoid recognition from the public's eyes. Potter was not a problem. Of course, the Potter married many other families, but he was a direct descendant through the male heir. The other families could not be counted then. And there was the Flamel. Right! The Flamel family was not really his… or was it. No, he should not doubt like this. He saw the names on the massive family tree with his own eyes. So, why was it not considered into the 4 families in the list? Why? Why? Why? Questions after questions came into mind. Harry was sure he knew the answer, the right one, but he needed the reason first. Why would the Flamel not be counted?
A smile started to blossom becoming a grin in the end. Harry stood proudly announcing, "My name is Harry James Ambrosius Intra Evans Potter."
As Harry finished his name, the earth shook. Harry felt a wind rushing toward him and slowly he floated. Something flapped behind his back and to his wonder, it felt like wings. What! Harry soon felt that muscles of his back aching and when he could not hold it anymore, the boy let out a cry of pain, the wings vanished and he fell down landing like a lump on the ground. Harry remained there trying to collect his thought, emotion and energy. He felt like his body was going to split itself.
"Bravo," said Master Fane who appeared above him with his wings flapping like crazy and clapping, "congratulation, Harry James Ambrosius Intra Evans Potter. You have achieved what normal Mage spends half his life doing."
"Huh?" Harry breathed heavily trying to regain his body from the pain.
"Human beings were born with some extra parts of their bodies. Well, that was ages ago. All of them had the essential for using magic. But, soon, they started to change. From a kind, peaceful and intelligent race, they became aggressive, bloodlust, and fool. So, Magic separated the race into groups, the non-magical and the magical ones, starting the world you live in. Also, Magic removed the extra parts of their bodies, the human beings lost their special gift of living in all territories such as on the ground, up above, down under or in the water. However, the magical ones with the power level of Mage and above can call back their extra organs. These special organs depend on their blood lines and their elements. Those with air element have their wings, water with gills behind their ears and could transform into a merman, earth element allows them to breathe under the ground with their extra organ of a special node under their skins, and lastly, those with fire element have their metabolism at high rate and also with special node under their skins which can ignite fire with just a snap of their fingers.
The mages who tried did not know about this fact, but they tried nonetheless. They think they are forcing the power of nature, doing the unnatural. Those accomplished thought they have done the wonder; instead, they just gained back their true body parts. What a mindless fool. Anyway, seeing as you have regained yourself, do you have any question?"
True, Harry was now sitting listening the man's speech, but he still felt weak and the pain at his back was still there, though not too severe. Anyhow, the boy nodded and stood up. "Honorable one," he spoke, "thank you for the information, but if I may ask, why are you telling me and what had just happened to me?"
"That's because," Master Fane replied, eyes twinkling madly, "you are to gain your true form and finish a task I have for you."
-o0o-
Ending note: Next Chapter! The task… I'm so jealous of you all enjoying your holidays. By the way, Happy Christmas!
Thanks all for the reviews.
