CHAPTER 9:

SPARKS

It was on the weekend following Harry finding Medea that he decided to take her on a tour of Fuyuki. Technically, she could view these areas remotely via a viewing crystal, but Harry thought it best for her to see it for herself. In any case, Harry thought that Medea could stand to have some time to enjoy herself, and he wanted her opinion on the Fuyuki Fire, and the effect it left.

Oddly enough, Medea chose a denim jacket over a black top and a tan skirt for her mundane clothes. Her ears were concealed by a charm. And she actually enjoyed the walk around the city.

"It's so strange," she murmured as she looked at the distant skyscrapers as they walked down a relatively quiet street. "I've never seen cities like this. They are wonders, and yet horrors. Some of these places lack spirit and character."

"Welcome to the modern age," Harry said. "The wizards in the world I grew up in sneered at the mundanes, Muggles, they called them. Well, not all of them, but the older families did. I mean, you have a point, but I grew up with Muggles, and even if I hated the Dursleys, and that few people did anything about it…well, in the end, wizards' follies are those of humanity, just magnified. Ditto Magi."

"Hmm. Oh, it's still certainly novel, and I'm not saying this time is without spirit or character. But with the passing of the Gods…well, as much as I detest the Olympians for what they did to me, there is something gone from the world with their passing." She chuckled ruefully. "It makes me feel old, like a relic from the past."

"You look good for it," Harry said.

"Flatterer," she said with a smile. "Still, I'm glad I got to experience it. The Grail gave me knowledge, but experiencing what it fed me is another. To tell the truth, I actually enjoyed my travels…until it all went wrong. It was all so…novel, to someone raised mostly within a palace. I'm only telling you this because you've seen my life already."

"And you've seen mine."

"Yes. Though it's little comfort to learn how your life was stage-managed as thoroughly as my own was, if not more so," Medea remarked. "Still, to achieve what you did at your age is admirable."

Harry nodded. "Thanks. Actually, I'm curious. From what Rin told me, most Servants have a desire for the Grail themselves, and the Grail is supposed to be primed by at least six Servants to make a wish for Master and Servant. Now, Rin wants the Grail because, well, it's her duty as a Tohsaka, and if you're able to help Sakura, then I don't need the Grail. But what do you want the Grail for?"

She only hesitated briefly. "I desire a second chance. Not in my life in the Age of the Gods, but to be born anew in this era. The Grail is able to reincarnate a Heroic Spirit permanently once primed. I would like a life free from the influence of the Olympians."

"Nice. So, a quiet, relatively happy life?" Harry asked. "Only, the Master of Rider from the last Grail War said that his Servant wanted to be reincarnated so that he could try conquering the world again." On her look, he explained, "He was Iskandar. Alexander the Great of Macedon."

"Ah. That man," Medea said. "And you are quite right in surmising I would prefer a quiet life. Still, let's not count our chickens ere they've hatched…"

They had tea at a café, before they headed to the park. Even in the late morning, under clear skies, lit by the sun, the park was dismal. However, its effect on Medea was astonishing. She looked very ill at ease. "There's something wrong here," Medea said, shivering almost imperceptibly.

"You feel it too?"

"Probably more than you," she murmured. Thankfully, not many people were nearby, so nobody was about to overhear them. "We Heroic Spirits are affected by such things, given our nature. We're closer to ghosts that can become solid." After a few seconds, she conjured up a jar and a spoon, and began scooping samples of the soil into the jar. "This worries me. For such malice and hatred to permeate the fabric of reality here…something must have gone very wrong with the last Grail War. This can't be caused just by people dying in the fire. It's not far from a Reality Marble, I'd say, at least to spirits."

"Really?" Harry asked. He knew what one was. A Reality Marble was a mental world, one that, under the right circumstances, could temporarily overwrite local reality, transporting those nearby into said world. Iskandar had one himself, the Ionian Hetairoi, a vast desert plain filled with his armies from his life. Possessing one was an automatic Sealing Designation by the Magus Association, given their rarity, and studying any outside of the purview of Clock Tower would bring about the same thing.

"To spirits," Medea clarified, finishing her work and standing, pocketing the jar and erasing the spoon. "I'm going to analyse those. You told me that the Master of Saber attacked the Grail."

"He died five years ago, of some sort of illness," Harry said. "But we suspected it might have been a curse."

"I think you're right. Why would destroying the Grail cause a curse, then? A defence mechanism built into the Grail?"

"I dunno. Magi are spiteful at the best of times, and I wouldn't be surprised if the von Einzberns did do something to prevent their opponents from winning. Kiritsugu Emiya was their representative, though." And Kirei, who was the one who told them of Kiritsugu destroying the Grail, was not exactly a reliable eyewitness. "Then again, Zelretch did point out something interesting. Your predecessor in the previous Grail War was Gilles de Rais, during his time as Bluebeard. The Grail should not have been able to summon the likes of him, a Heroic Spirit who was a vile murderer. Maybe during his time as one of Joan of Arc's knights, but…"

"I see your point," Medea mused. "Though I'm not exactly a hero myself, Heroic Spirit or not. My myth is well known, true, but because of infamy rather than heroism."

"Yeah, well, when people like to read about heroes or villains…they generally aren't interested in the people, just the images built up around them," Harry said quietly.

An uncomfortable silence passed between them, before Medea said, "I think we should get out of here. I dislike this place immensely…"

The tour went on for a bit longer, but it had been soured by the interlude at the park, and they went back to Tohsaka Manor for lunch. Medea, while she didn't need food, did appreciate eating it. Then, after lunch, she left for her Workshop. They had discussed their findings with Rin, who shuddered. "If the von Einzberns did boobytrap the Grail…damn them. They like interfering. Remember what happened in the Third Holy Grail War?"

"You mean Avenger?" Harry asked. It was in one of the history books that the von Einzbern Master tinkered with the Grail to summon a different class of Servant: Avenger. Not much was known about said Servant, only that it was swiftly killed, the von Einzbern's trump card proving to be a damp squib. They had been researching the Grail War once they realised it was starting again, too early.

"Yeah. Still, Caster feeling the way she did, like it was a Reality Marble filled with grudges and hatred…" Rin mused. "This is disturbing. I managed to find some of my father's notes on the Grail, how it can be transformed into a gateway to Akasha, the Root of All Things."

Harry nodded. "Hence why he wanted it so badly." The Root, after all, contained information from past, present, and future. Someone with even a small amount of access to it could gain substantial power. Even the partial opening done by the sacrifice of six Servants allowed wishes to be granted to a degree.

"Right. But a curse within the Grail might end up within the Root, and if it's a particularly bad curse…" Rin said. "Not that it should be a concern: you'd need a curse on a par with a Magus from the Age of the Gods at the bare minimum, but the von Einzberns, powerful though they are, probably aren't that good. Besides, spiteful though they are, I doubt they'd want to risk tainting the Root deliberately. Let's hope Caster can find something. As wary as I am having that woman in this house, she has her uses. I wonder how much magecraft we can learn from her?"

"Dunno," Harry said. "She's from the Age of the Gods, it's not like you can learn it by rote from her. Then again…well, I guess if you ask politely, she might show us a few tricks. But we have more important things. The Grail, and Sakura…"

Harry found Medea in their shared Workshop in his trunk, assaying soil samples in test tubes. The Workshop, like many Magi Workshops, looked like a hybrid of laboratory and an alchemist's lair. "Anything yet, Medea?"

"Very little that is definite, and I'm not sure there will be. The only definite thing is that there are strong traces of mana that correspond with the Grail," Medea said, her lips pursing. "And there is something like a strong curse, but it's defying analysis. I doubt even with what techniques I can bring to bear, it will give up any real secrets. Which is worrying. That means it's unlikely to be recent magecraft. It's old, ancient. It may have been old during the Age of the Gods. It could have been potentially used by modern Magi, but it's not modern magecraft. I can't tell you anything more about it, and I'm not even sure what more I can find out about it. I intend to continue, though. If nothing else, I enjoy a challenge."

"You sound like Rin or Hermione," Harry said with a nostalgic chuckle, despite the disturbing news. "And the ritual for Sakura?"

"The reagents need time to prepare, and I need to meet her myself to analyse her body," Medea said, standing and going over to another bench, checking over some notes. "You said you sometimes have meals with her and another boy, Shirou Emiya, you said. I would like to take the opportunity to do so soon."

"Right. Just don't take it personally if Taiga is there and she thinks you're in a relationship with me," Harry said. "She was already pretty weird about Shirou and Sakura being together."

"And what should we say to her?" Medea asked.

"I dunno. What do you think?"

"Well, I could always say that I eloped with a man who bewitched me and had me steal my inheritance, only to get dumped for a little strumpet in return, and you helped me out," Medea said with a shrug. "It's not far from the truth(1)."

"Well, I said it before, and I'll say it again. Jason was a fucking idiot. And an ungrateful one too. Then again, aside from Athena, they didn't like intelligent women, did they? The Ancient Greeks, I mean. Most of the goddesses are either baby factories or spiteful to an extreme, and most of the heroines were either screwed over or else virgins for life. And don't get me started on the gods. Zeus and Poseidon were serial rapists when they weren't philanderers."

Medea actually laughed, even if it was tinged with bitterness. "Your assessment is not inaccurate. So…what do you think of me, then?"

Harry was caught off-guard by the question. Eventually, he said, "I think you got a bad hand. If it weren't for Aphrodite…or if Jason stayed faithful to you…personally, I think you deserve a second chance. My mentor was all about forgiveness…though he did it to the point of insanity. But I've seen your life, Medea. I think you deserve someone to love."

"And you? What of you?"

Harry shrugged. "Hermione and Luna are like sisters to me. Ginny dumped me because I wasn't a Potter except by adoption. The fangirls of Magical Britain weren't in love with me, but infatuated with the Boy Who Lived. I'm only 20, Medea, I have time." He then frowned as he wondered at the implication. "Are you…are you asking me that because…"

"I am in love with you?" Medea chuckled mirthlessly. "Perish the thought. If that had been the case by now, I would have thought that Aphrodite's doing once more. I was just curious about my Master and what he thought of me. I am…pleased, Harry. But keep in mind that I have been betrayed very badly when it comes to love. You are attractive and altruistic…but you'll forgive me if I try to keep our relationship on relatively professional terms. Even if we engage in a mana transfer ritual."

"Uhh…wait, do you mean of the tantric variety?" Harry asked, more than a little embarrassed.

"Well, I don't particularly feel like ingesting mana-charged blood," Medea said. "The sheer amount of mana I am getting from our link is already quite prodigious, but if I am to engage in prolonged combat with an enemy Servant, I may need more. As you do not wish for me to involve innocents, and frankly, neither do I, the ritual is our best option."

Harry was blushing more than a little. He had one of the most infamous figures from Greek myth suggesting having sex, even if it was to boost her power. "While I know that's a good idea, you said that more to get a reaction out of me, didn't you?" he asked flatly.

Medea just smirked. "What, am I not attractive?"

"I think the better question is, do I have a chance in hell with someone as beautiful as you?" Harry said.

"Being a legendary figure is a heady aphrodisiac," Medea commented. Then, she turned to face Harry, her expression pensive. "Harry…you do have a chance with someone like me. But you and I have faced betrayals from those who were supposed to love us, even if your betrayal was lesser than my own. Ginny Weasley was a foolish child. Jason, however, should have known better. If nothing else, Harry, know that I am truly grateful to you for saving me, and giving me another chance to win the Grail. You are a much better Master than Atrum Galliasta could ever hope to be, though he sets the bar fairly low. I detest heroes…but I do not detest you personally. Just don't expect this fair maiden to fall head over heels for you."

"…Maiden?" Harry asked, raising a wry eyebrow. Medea's own twitched in annoyance. But even so, this frank discussion, though they didn't know it, had helped matters. Their bond was growing, and they would need it in the time to come…

CHAPTER 9 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Medea's trying to understand Angra Mainyu's curses, and Harry and Medea are growing closer.

Now, if you're wondering at Medea's attitude towards Harry being different towards what she has towards Kuzuki in canon, I should draw your attention to the different circumstances under which they agreed to join forces. In canon, Medea was drawn to Kuzuki not caring who she was, instead helping her without a hidden agenda, and she became desperate to stay with him.

Here, it's rather different. Harry made it clear from the beginning that he needed Medea's skills, but also that he wasn't sure whether to trust her. However, the way he asked for them to join forces touched her, and while they had mild trust issues initially, she realises that she can't blame him. However, he also makes it clear that he's given her a chance, and Medea hasn't become infatuated like she did with Kuzuki. There's some lust that will grow, but as Medea herself pointed out, she hasn't fallen head over heels for him.

Ultimately, it makes it a healthier relationship. As sweet as Kuzuki and Medea can be, it's sort of marred by their, well, plotting to steal the souls of people from Fuyuki to power Medea. It's even more heinous in the original anime adaptation, where they view sacrificing Fuyuki, and even more people around the world, as acceptable to summon the Grail. Kuzuki and Medea are a sweet couple, but very twisted.

Medea and Harry, however, have a different, and perhaps more complex dynamic. Harry deliberately supplicated himself before her to emphasize his desire for her help, even knowing who she was. Medea, while a bit annoyed at having another man use her, is touched by his desire to help a family member, namely Sakura, and she is, admittedly, somewhat greedy for his mana supply. She also feels some small respect for Harry, as he goes out of his way to treat her as an ally rather than a servant, even if she's annoyed at his laying out conditions. Plus, she thinks him physically and psychologically attractive, a feeling that's mutual.

I think another, rather treacherous part of her, has the 'damsel in distress rescued by a handsome knight' thing going, a bit like Ginny after Book 2. Unlike Ginny, and given her experiences in life, Medea is able to temper that impulse, but given how she reacted to Kuzuki's kindness, it's still there.

While Harry is still wary of her, he also respects her as a more powerful Magus. He also thinks of her as someone who may have deserved another chance. Plus, if she can really save Sakura, it helps to be nice to her. Harry also makes it clear that he values Medea beyond being a tool.

At the moment, their relationship is friendly, but relatively platonic, though Medea and Harry are already teasing each other. Yes, Medea's comment about mana transfer rituals was partly meant to get a rise out of Harry: having seen his life, she probably knows what buttons to press. But she also wants to keep their relationship professional, or at least she doesn't want to fall in love again. Of course, she doesn't get what she wants in that regard…though she'll get something she's always wanted, deep down.

Review-answering time! Have a Little Feith: Well, he's definitely going to be as impulsive as Tidus in, well, charging in without heed to the Yevon scriptures. But you're right, a pre-canon Shirou would be at his best with the Al Bhed.

sandmanwake: Harry DOES have magic circuits, but as he hasn't awoken them properly until he came to the Nasuverse, he can't use Nasuverse-style magecraft to its fullest. He has the magic core of Potterverse fanon. However, he knows the basics of Jewelcraft, he will learn how to use the Gandr and Finn curses, and a few other things. He may not be anywhere near Rin's level with Nasuverse magecraft, but with Potterverse magic, he doesn't need to.

DalkonCledwin: I think the Goblins allowed him to do it because they felt it would fuck up Magical Britain's economy a little, and while they would survive, the wizards may not be able to weather it as much. I do get sick and tired of stories where Harry's fortune makes up a substantial part of Magical Britain's economy, though, so this was more of a minor blip to it. And Arc as Luna's mother? VERY scary thought. Can True Ancestors breed with humans, though? Shirou won't be at the level you seem to want him to be at, though. He'll be a more competent Magus by the events of Fate/Stay Night canon, but he won't access Unlimited Blade Works until later. Most of his improvement will be to his mana supply, so Arturia won't be as in danger of running on fumes as in canon. That being said, during the fight against Berserker, he does Project a bow and a quiver of arrows on Harry's suggestion. And I had written the chapter where his Command Seals appear long before you suggested it, so I didn't take your suggestion. It was just serendipity.

Lu Bane Na: Ah, I see. I've never watched Code Ment, though. Probably because my interest in Code Geass is mild at best.

Thunder Dragon: Yes, but keep in mind that Rin and Medea are meeting as potential allies.

Lancelot Du Loc: This is really a function of my only having experienced Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night. I want to wait until I have an opportunity to watch Fate/Apocrypha before I start bringing in Servants from that in earnest, as I don't want to rely on fanfic as an indication of their characters. And while you are correct in my bringing in Frankenstein's Monster as Berserker in Gorgon and Thanatos, I did bring in Jack the Ripper for my first Potterverse crossover Perils of Magical Investigative Journalism. I do want to do at least one story with Mordred at a later date.

1. Given the influence of Path of the King on this story, it was inevitable that I made a sly reference to it. In that story, Medea (using the alias of 'Megissa') is confronted by Taiga about her presence at the Emiya household. She effectively retells her own myth, but with enough lies of omission that it works. Taiga is promptly reduced to a sympathetic bawling wreck.