Disclaimer: Harry Potter and The Tribe do not belong to me. I make no money from this. :(
Chapter 4: Children are the cruelest beings on Earth.
Harry awoke to an empty bed that morning. Looking over he saw Greg getting dressed for the day. Feeling a lot better he got up and dressed in what he wore the day before.
"Hey there little healer how are you feeling today?" He said pulling on the green mesh shirt, he glanced at Harry looking a little worried but a look of relief washed over his face when he saw him. Harry was smiling that didn't happen often these days.
"I feel so much better then before everything seemed to be going in fast forward and slow motion at the same time yesterday. I just had to have some down time to process what was going on. You know what I mean?" Harry was brushing out his hair now but Greg did know what he meant so he nodded.
"What are we going to tell everyone here about me Greg?" Harry asked looking up at his brother. He knew Greg wouldn't let anything happen to him but he could tell that none of these kids had any type of powers themselves. So he didn't know if they should tell them or not.
"I think we are just going to have to start trusting them if we are going to live here." Greg replied nodding. "Maybe we should just tell them that you are special and you were born this way because being strong like me isn't really a power, but yours all you have to do is bump into someone and all there cuts or bruises are gone."
"Yeah, your right but I don't want to be used like before if they start trying to I say we leave, right?" Harry looked up and Greg gave him a tender hug.
"Of course, lets go see what is going on with the rest of everyone here." Harry complied and they walked out.
They was heading out of their room and they heard Amber, Dal and Jack talking about their three prisoners.
"So shall we let em in or kick'em out boss?" Jack questioned Amber, Harry and Greg came into view then.
"Can, can I talk to you and then them first before you decide?" Harry was holding on to Greg's hand. "There is something about me you should know about if we stay here."
Amber Jack and Dal looked at each other. Jack and Dal shrugged so Amber turned to them and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay." They all sat down in what looked like Jack's workshop and sleeping area.
"I was born special." Harry started once they were seated, Amber gave him an unimpressed look, "No, I am serious Amber, I can um my body.." huf, "When I touch someone I can heal any wound on them."
"Your not, no way!" Dal exclaimed. He looked more excited then anything so Harry and Greg nodded. "Are you a mutant like in the comic books?" Now everyone was looking at him like he was mad.
"Um I guess I am kind of.."
"Amazing! Can you show me I have some blisters on my feet and a bruise on my hip?" He said as he took off his shoes. Harry was looking at him wide eyed but nodded when Dal looked up.
"I don't need to see the problem but you should show Jack and Amber so they know I am telling the truth." Before Harry could reach out to touch him Amber piped up.
"Is that why your not hurt from your ship exploding?" He nodded.
"Yes Harry doesn't stay hurt but he was holding onto me when the explosion happened and we swam for shore." Greg finally put his two cents in. As they were talking Dal finally got his shoes off and showed off the back of his heals. Then hitched his pants down on one side.
Harry looked him in the eye and reached for his hand and before there eyes the bruise faded and the blisters were clean skin.
"Wow..." Jack had a wide eye look. Amber looked at him funny.
"When I held your hand last night all my soreness in my muscles went away I had thought it was relief from being in the mall but that was you right?" When Harry nodded she continued. "You can't control it can you?"
Harry shook his head and Greg decided he needed them to know more. "I keep him safe, but I can't always be around. On our ship there were less then twenty of us and some of them had powers, none like Harry here, theirs was more destructive hence the explosion. We aren't sure if any of them are alive but if they are they will look for Harry cause they know he would have." Harry hugged Greg tight. "They used him and like I said if he fights back all he will do is heal them he needs people to keep him safe."
"Of course, he should be safe here with us." Jack said after looking at the group.
"Not only that Jack he has to be kept secret not from the mall inhabitants but from the rest of the city." Greg put his arm over Harry's shoulder.
"We need everyone we can get if we are to live here but we can't be bullied so I need to talk to the others in the mall and the ones in the cage. We need them to join us freely not as an ultimatum. I can't live in fear of waking up and and..." Harry started crying putting his face into Greg's chest.
"Shhh Baby everything's fine now I'm here." Greg looked up to see the others confused again so explained. "Harry is fourteen years old I know he doesn't look it but that's because his aunt and uncle used to starve him. So when we were on the ship he was the only pretty person left that couldn't kill with some thought or not plain ugly. So his best friend, Ron was a lot bigger and he could make fire but then he tried to rape him. Harry had no defense from him. So no matter what happens we will not stay anywhere with people who could turn around and hurt him ever again."
"So that's the reason you need to talk to the three in the cage?" Amber nodded in agreement to the request with her question. "Yeah you can do that, what do you want us to do?"
"I need you to open the back gate before I start talking I'm gonna make some new friends." Harry said after he wiped his face, his face didn't have all the ugly splotches like others would then Amber reminded herself that it would heal to fast to leave any irritation.
"Well first we need to tell everyone else and we need to pool our resources." Amber proposed.
Harry saw Jack looking a little nervous and stepped up to him. "Jack?" He looked at Harry, "Jack what's wrong don't you want everyone to stay together and have a good start?"
"Yeah Yeah but I also want the food to stay safe because you know if every one realizes how much they have they wont take care not to eat it all. You know?" Jack said wringing his hands together.
Amber nodded, "You're right so we have to make some rules. Jack show us your stash okay? I promise we will do whats right."
First Jack showed them the cafe and what he had explaining that this was the stuff he used day to day but he kept a lot hidden under lock in the basement. They all looked around and realized this was the storage for the actual cafe so there was lots.
"My dad used to own one of the stores up stairs so when things started to happen and the adults started dieing he made sure to stock stuff in the mall and he hid me here before he left." Jack stuttered out looking down. "I made sure to put the gates down at the beginning so no one could steal everything I also looted the first floor so no one would try and, and, then once things settled, you know, I opened the gate hoping someone like y'all would come through but no one did for about ten weeks now and then last night you guys come in and now I realize that the food problem will get worse." Harry hugged Jack around the middle.
"It's alright now you aren't alone any more remember, we will make our own tribe and keep everyone here safe." Jack hugged him back and just wished to himself that all the adults were not dead. "Maybe we could start a garden or something on the roof. That way we have some food coming in after all this is finished?"
"You know that sounds like a wonderful idea!" Amber said, "We were going to start a farm when we got out of the city but you know what happened."
Dal was nodding and Greg smiled at the two of the boys hugging. "Come on you four lets go show them the food up stairs then figure out what we should do with the stuff down here."
They all headed upstairs to make some food for the hoard. When they went up they grabbed everyone's attention and Amber grabbed her bag of canned food.
"If we're gonna stick together we have to share what we have." She took the cans out of her bag then looked at Jack.
"I don't have an unlimited supply okay but we have enough to get along for about a month or two with what I have in storage and what's up here. Okay?" Every one nodded so he continued. "I also have a camping stove so we don't have to eat it cold but we need to be careful, right?" he looked up at Amber.
She nodded then everyone started to prepare food. When they all sat down to eat Harry cleared his throat to get there attention.
"Amber, Dal and Jack know this but we think you should also. I have a secret that if it got out we would be in a lot of trouble, so I need everyone to give me their word that they won't tell." He said trying to look stern but they all thought he looked more like he may throw up on them. When everyone promised he continued. "I can heal people when I touch them." He looked down not wanting to see everyone's faces.
"Can you heal Paul's ears?" She asked looking hopeful. Paul was staring intently at him.
"I'm not sure but I can try but I make no promises if he was born that way his body may not know how to heal the correct way." Paul nodded but Patsy looked upset. Harry then got up and touched Paul's face.
"Paul can you hear me?" Harry said in a soft voice. Paul shook his head and started to sign something.
"He said no but nothing hurts on his body and his head doesn't hurt anymore." Patsy translated for him with a frown, "He also says thank you for trying." She said when Paul elbowed her in the side.
"Your welcome Paul and I'm sorry I couldn't heal your ears." Harry replied. He looked at everyone else asked if they needed some healing Patsy and Salene said yes so he grabbed there hands. They all then went back to eating.
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Harry walked down the stairs while Jack opened the back gates. The three looked confused and in the case of the long black haired leader, mad.
"Hi, I'm Harry what are you guy's names?" He asked looking at them and fiddling with the bag on his back.
"What is this about! Let us in!" The leader said banging on the gate.
"Why would we let anyone in if they were going to hurt us?" Harry asked in a soft voice.
"I wouldn't hurt you, my name is Zandra I just want to stay please." Harry looked a the blue and pink haired teenager. She looked desperately at him and Harry nodded. She smiled and sank to the floor.
"Zandra danmnit! What about me?" He looked mad. Harry ignored him and glanced at the tall boy that reminded him of Greg in an abstract way.
"I would like to stay to," He said not looking at the other boy, "My name is Ryan, I don't like hurting people but I can protect people." He said hopeful. "RYAN!"
"No Lex this is a good thing, I would rather stay then keep running."
The boy now known as Lex started cussing and kicking the fence.
"Please stop." Harry said in a desperate voice, "Your hurting yourself!"
"What do you care? Your just taking my gang and leaving me out in the cold!" He yelled. Zandra and Ryan backed away from him.
"It doesn't have to be that way. I have, I have enough food here for one person for a week. I am willing to give it to you and you could find some way to leave the city. Or you could stay here and be a friend to us and contribute to a new tribe. We need strong guys all we have right now is my brother. But I know you could do a good job. I know that you need us as much as we need you. So the choice is yours Lex. You could stay here and be our friend or you can go." Harry stared into his eyes begging him to agree to stay. "All you have to do is be nice and just contribute or, or or you could leave." Harry stuttered as he finished his little speech. It was Lex's turn now Harry did everything he could.
Lex felt confused here was someone who was practically begging him to stay and all he had to do was be nice and contribute. No one had ever given him a real chance he stared into the green eyed boy, Harry's, eyes looking for the truth and what he saw was honesty.
"What would I need to do?" Lex said when he did Harry relaxed and smiled at him.
"Just be part of the group don't try and take over and be a friend. I promise it is a lot easier to be nice then it is to be mean." Harry smiled and Lex nodded.
"Well I guess you wont need this bag after all. Jack can you let up the front gate?" Harry yelled up stairs. "Let's get y'all cleaned up and some food how does that sound?"
Harry led them all upstairs to the group up there. "So everyone this is Lex, Ryan and Zandra." He pointed them out. "They are going to be our new friends," He then introduced the rest of the tribe. "So Jack do you think we could get them some food and maybe rooms?"
"Yeah yeah not a problem we already have some on the stove for them." Jack said pointing to the table everyone sat again and started to learn about one another.
When they were finished eating Harry grabbed Greg's hand took a big breath and once again launched into the talk about his powers then healed the three of their hurts.
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Everyone in the mall was helping set up permanent rooms, they had agreed to stick to the top floor. Everyone had a little trouble with Lex's attitude but it wasn't like what he was in the cage and all that happened was Harry giving him a funny look and he stopped. In the middle of moving a bed Greg and Ryan saw someone on the bottom floor looking up at them. They dropped the mattress in surprise not knowing who he was. Harry heard the bang and came running but stopped short when he saw the stranger. He had brown hair and eyes and a striped black and grey poncho with a messenger bag and a skateboard. He was quite tall and looked to be sixteen or seventeen.
"Amber! Lex!" Harry yelled out. Then went to stand behind Greg. He didn't know how this guy got in they had shut the gates.
"I mean you no harm," He said looking at them steadily. Everyone came barreling in from different directions.
"Who are you!" Lex was the first one to talk. Harry almost face palmed but just gave him a look. Lex looked a little sheepish. "I mean, what is your name and how did you manage to get inside?" Lex glanced back at Harry saw the smile and nodded.
"I was looking for a safe place to stay, my name is Bray and I came in through the sewers." Bray said pointing off to his right. Jack cussed and Dal face palmed.
"I guess we forgot about that," Amber offered up looking at Jack and Dal sheepish.
"Your not a spy for some other tribe are you?" Harry asked keeping an eye on Bray's body language. He shook his head.
"No I don't have a tribe," Harry nodded and looked up at Greg, he shrugged. Harry then gave a look asking what they should do to Amber and Lex. Lex shook his head as Amber nodded. Harry then made a silly face at Lex making him laugh a little.
Lex looked around saw he would probable be out voted and shrugged, "He looks like he could, maybe, be useful, you can be useful right?" he looked down at Bray. Harry rolled his eyes knowing that Lex would not change to much so took it in stride.
"Yes, I am a gatherer, I go around the city finding food and and other things..." He trailed off.
"Come on up, it looks like we have another member. Are you going to stay. Or are you leaving in the morning?" Harry asked as Bray made his way up the stairs. Bray looked like he didn't know so Greg sent a look at everyone to make sure they wouldn't tell Harry's secret. "I am not sure, you all seem nice enough." Everyone then got back to work but Harry, Amber and Lex they walked Bray to the cafe.
"Have you eaten lately?" Amber asked the guy. Bray nodded yes. They got to know each other, Lex trying to act like a bad boy.
"Amber, Lex and I are going to go set up the rest of his room do you think you will be alright with just Bray?" She nodded, "alright then um.. the room down at the end there hasn't had dibs called on it if you want to take a look?" He then grabbed Lex's hand and pulled the sputtering guy behind him.
"You left her by herself with him, Damnnit, Harry you can't just trust him!" Lex stopped and pulled Harry to a stop.
"Like I trusted you, you mean?" Harry glanced up at him frowning.
"Don't be like that, he said it himself, he's a gatherer that's a thief." Lex frowned back.
"Yes Lex, I know he was also hiding something but so are we and if he takes anything it wouldn't be more than we would have given you." Harry hugged him and Lex sighed.
"Fine, come on then lets go sort out this mad house." He put an arm over the shorter boys shoulders.
That night at dinner Bray entertained them with some slight of hand and everyone kept the atmosphere light. It wasn't till morning when they found some food missing that Lex gave Harry a hard look.
"Everyone! Listen up!" Harry called everyone to order. "We already knew he might do this but if he comes back we can hope he will replace what he took. So we continue our day right?" Amber looked mad but Harry shook his head at her. "I know we trusted him but that is life we can be this way or we can behave like the tribes outside which would you rather?" Greg looked at him proud. The kids looked confused but Salene, Jack, Dal, Lex and Amber looked accepting. As they were about to get breakfast under way they heard some one open the door to the sewers that they for got to lock again.
"Kids stay put!" Amber led the older group to the top of the stairs. They looked down seeing two people. Bray and a girl about Amber's age with short dirty purple hair and a baby bump that looked ready to pop came up the stairs.
"Everyone this is Trudy." Bray introduced the pregnant girl. The kids has joined them now but It was Patsy who managed to talk first.
"I know what that is, that's a baby!" She said motioning to Trudy's bump.
"That's right. We need a safe place to stay. We've been on the move for a week. She needs a place to have the baby and this is the safest I've found." Bray said looking at them like any would deny her.
"You know Bray if you had told us we would have given you the food she needed and let her come back last night." Harry said with a frown. He looked at everyone else. "You guys remember what we talked about right? So? Who wants to do the right thing?" Everyone nodded even Lex who didn't look thrilled and Amber who looked as if she had been betrayed. They led the two to the cafe.
"I am sorry about taking the food but Trudy needed something a little more nutritious then what I can normally find. I brought some replacements for the food, you don't mind to much do you?" Bray looked Amber, Lex then Harry in the eyes.
"Yeah whatever at least you replaced what you took." Lex said and went back to his food. Harry was not looking forward to telling them his story again it felt that he had done it a hundred times already.
Look into the future
what do you see
I really need to know now
Is there a place for me
tell me where do we go from here
take me as you find me
For what I am
When I make mistakes please understand
For as long as I know your near
There is nothing for me to fear
Out of the darkness the light shines
burning through the coldest night
We can find our way
Together we'll make it
with every step we take
we're closer together
if were going to survive
the dream must stay alive...
"The Dream Must Stay Alive"
Sung by
Rosalind J.
Written By
Simon May, Simon Lockyer,
Ben Robbins