Chapter 5: The Hunt for Harry's Sisters

July 1, 1991 7:40 pm

Severus, Harry and Petunia boarded the plane and found their seats. Once the plane was in the air Petunia turned to Severus.

"The last place I knew Perseus to be was at Karpatii Academy. We'll check there first. If they are not there we'll then go to Corvinus Island. If we still haven't found him there we'll contact the Ancients and the Jaguar elders in South America. I know they have allowed him there in the past to research healing and medicinal plants that they use. If that still doesn't manage us to locate them I shall contact his mother."

"Who is his mother?"

"Her name is Uba. She is a historian for the Vampire council."

"Did I just hear you correctly? Perseus is a vampire?"

"NO! My aunt was bitten just after he was weaned. She shared custody of Perseus with his father Armand."

"What is it with you Evans women? You make friends with the most dangerous creatures, Werewolves, Death Eaters, Half Giants, Centaurs, Goblins, Shape shifters and now Vampires? What's next, Dragons? Sphynxes? Harry, I hope you have better taste in friends." Severus mused in a disgruntled fashion.

"Well dad, as Vernon bullied anyone that was even halfway nice to me I haven't had any friends. So, I am pretty much of the mind that if I feel I can trust them I'll try to make friends. As for Death Eaters, not all are bad . . . after all you are a Death Eater, albeit a reformed one . . . and I feel you are a good man and even though you are my dad I'd also like to be your friend."

Severus contemplated what his son had said along with several other things until he finally passed out for the rest of the flight; even the refueling stops passed by unnoticed. He awoke just as the flight attendants were going about having people bring their seats into a fully upright position.

Severus flinched just a little and he looked around the cabin in bewilderment as a voice resonated throughout the cabin. "Good morning everyone, this is your captain speaking. We are about to make our descent. If you look out your nearest window you will see Port Angeles."

Once they had exited the plane and gotten out of the airport Petunia rented a car. She drove to La Push.

"Petunia, where are we?"

"La Push, it is the Quileute reservation. I need to talk to Billy Black. He's on their council of elders and should be able to give me directions to Karpatii. I also will be . . . well . . . checking to see if . . . damn. I guess I should talk to Sirius about where we will live before I just see if they need a resident healer. They . . . for lack of better words . . . are similar to the Jaguar people. Except the Quileute's are rumored to be descended from wolves. They jokingly say they are werewolves, but they aren't, well at least not what we would call werewolves. It is a genetic trait that is passed down through the ages. And they only activate when Uba's type of vampire comes around."

"Uba's type of vampire? But there is only one type. Right?"

"No. One of my really distant ancestors had a rare defect that gave him impenetrable diamond like skin and an alluring scent. He was bitten, by one of the vampires that you know of, on the hand. A bit of the vampire's blood got on his skin when the vamp's teeth broke off. The fool sucked the blood off. The virus that turns people into vampires got into his bloodstream. It bonded with his DNA. He had not a clue. A few months later he married and got his new bride pregnant. The pregnancy went extremely fast. The child ripped its way out of the mother's body. The father left with the child. A thousand years later the child now a full grown woman returned. She had the same Diamond hard skin as her father did along with the scent. She had no heartbeat though. She could only survive on blood. She had found a man she found attractive and licked a cut to taste his blood. Her saliva as it turned out was venom. It changed the man into the same kind of vampire she was. He left her and spread the 'new' form of vampire throughout the world. A perfect example is the vampire coven in Voltaire, Italy. They have maintained their existence a complete secret from the rest of the world."

"Well, color me surprised. I did not know that. I'll leave you to it than. Can we get out and walk around?"

"Of course."

Harry clamored out of the car and ran into the nearby wooded area with Severus on his heels, laughing and giggling the entire time.

Harry ran straight to an old twisted tree and was soon nearly at the top. He found a spot where three branches seemed to erupt out of the tree. It made the perfect spot to sit in and enjoy the solitude and quiet of the forest. He settled in and then kicked off his shoes, letting them fall to the ground. He sighed with contentment.

Severus looked around in a puzzled fashion. He knew Harry had run this way but couldn't figure out where he went from here. He jumped about a foot in the air as a set of trainers hit the ground with a loud thump directly behind him. He looked up and could barely make out the dangling calves and feet that he knew were attached to his son. He smiled and nodded. He pulled out his wand and cast several spells that would catch and gently lower Harry to the ground should he fall. Severus then walked back to the car.

Harry breathed deeply and let himself relax. He gradually felt as though he was being cradled in loving arms and leaned back into the tree.

"Hello little one, please don't be scared. I haven't been awake for a long time." An old woman said.

Harry flinched a bit and stared at the woman. She was sitting cross legged in front of him and looked to be part of the tree.

"H-hello, my name is Harry, what's yours?"

"Oh, I don't remember. I used to be human but I sacrificed myself for my people, I was buried and this tree eventually grew up out of my grave. I am now part of the tree. I can feel the same sadness in you. Who laid down their life for yours?"

"My mother was given the choice to step aside. She told the bad man no. So he killed her and then tried to kill me."

"A mother's love does the most powerful things. I was married to the chief. A cold one came and tried to massacre my people. I felt like each one was one of my children. So I gave my heart's blood to ensure that they as a people would survive. Now when the cold ones come around I awaken and call forth the magic that changes a boy into a wolf. Sadly as the magic gathers within him he grows quickly into a man."

"So is there a cold one about?"

"No child, you have a special power inside you that made it possible for me to wake up."

"So you're a dryad now?"

"What exactly is a dryad?"

"A dryad is a tree spirit."

"No I think I am more of a Guardian. I do sense one of my children in need though. He cannot feel his legs."

"I'll ask my aunt to try and heal him."

"Thank you child."

"Now, how do you become part of the tree?"

"I'm not part of the tree, I am the tree. I can feel your power as though it is rubbing just a hairs breath away from mine. Try and relax. Lean back and close your eyes. Listen to nature. In the distance the birds are calling for someone to go soaring with them. The wind whispering its secrets as it plays with the trees. Relax into the ebb and flow of nature. Now, feel the wind flowing over you playing with your hair, breath it in and feel it fill your lungs. Feel its power, it is in a playful mood, and can you feel the extent of its potential. Wind has the power to lift the smallest of creatures with wings into the heights of the clouds, it can if angered rip the forest out of the ground and throw it far out to see. Now feel me. I also breathe the wind like you do. I also take strength from mother earth. I have driven my roots deep into her layers. I provide shelter and food for the creatures that roam the forest. I cleanse the air and freshen it so that it has the power to aid life. I dance in the wind. Now tell me how you are feeling right now."

"Well, my skin tingles where the wind is rushing over me. I feel you dancing with the playful wind. I feel a pulse echoing through you. It's like a heartbeat but so much more. It tastes like renewal and love all wrapped up in magic. I feel as though there is another Guardian that is half slumbering nearby. She doesn't know what she is though. She is destined to know great sorrow, and a great joy. I feel a protective barrier surrounding a large area in the distance. There is an old slumbering tree there. I feel as though I could go awaken it if I wanted to. I feel as though part of me is there, the part of me that we're looking for."

"Go to it than child. I shall reassure your father of your journey."

Harry let himself merge with the pulse of the earth and followed its currents to the slumbering tree. He soon found himself sitting on the crook of a branch looking at the slumbering tree. He was not aware that below him on the ground several yards away were a class of students.

"Hello old one. There are young ones about that are in need of your wisdom. Wake up."

"Who disturbs my sleep?"

"Grandmother, my name is Harry. There is a school built around you for magical younglings. They are without a Guardian to teach them what we human have long forgotten. "

"What would that be exactly?"

"We have forgotten how to tread softly upon our mother instead of wasting her resources and poisoning her."