All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 10- Islanded In a Stream of Stars
Harry slumped in the door of the Lucky Leprechaun with a tired expression as he slowly made his way across the old tavern to the bar. Harry was in a shit mood, but not being home for two nights would do that to a person. When he reached his usual spot at the bar Harry plopped himself down without much thought, waving over old Mick.
Mick reached him. "Evening young Harry? I've not seen you or Kaden for a few days-" He stopped noticing the expression Harry held. "What's happened?"
"Nothing, everything's fine." Harry said assuring the long retired Assassin. "I need a drink, get me the usual, if you don't mind."
Mick shook his head. "I'm afraid not Harry, Ms Danielle asked me not to serve you or Kaden, at least not for a few weeks."
Harry gave Mick the most sorrowful look he could muster.
"Don't look at me like that."
Harry shook his head, irritated. "I'll go somewhere else." Harry said, hoping Mick's resolve would crumble.
As per, Mick sighed in a defeated manner. "Sit down and I'll get you something, but Ms Danielle can shout at you tomorrow." Mick soon placed a bottle of firewhiskey, a bucket of ice and a glass on the bar before leaving Harry to his troubles. Mick wasn't the type of barmen to listen to his patron's problems, lest he told them to shut up and stop whining about said problems.
Harry was happy to oblige and poured himself a generous few fingers before drinking it and pouring another, swirling the smoky amber fluid. Harry breathed a sigh as the weariness burned in his throat as he emptied yet another glass. After slowly taking in his third glass someone sat on the stool next to him.
"You know, you really should slow down with that stuff."
Harry could recognize that voice anywhere. "If Kaden sent you here to pick me up, you can piss off."
Karen gave a laugh at the thought. "No, but I wouldn't mind knowing why you haven't been home for two days, Danielle's worried too. And Kaden's acting like an idiot about it."
"What else is new?" Harry snapped before shaking his head, it wasn't Karen's fault. "Sorry, why are you here?"
"Need a drink." Karen answered simply, summoning a glass carelessly from the bar.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her behaviour.
"Shut up, the rate you're going you'll need another bottle in five minutes anyway."
Harry nodded at her reasoning, but to his knowledge Karen Blackwood didn't drink for kicks. "C'mon, tell me, what's happening in the life of little 'Kay that's got her knickers in a twist?" Harry asked with a grin as she scowled at him, only succeeding at looking rather cute to his eyes.
Karen drained her glass, coughing as she refilled it. "That idiot John wants me to quit!" She spat. "The cheek of the asshole, I finally make Captain and he wants me to quit? He wants me to chase my old dream of becoming a Doctor, as if the place doesn't need me. I'm one of the most experienced in our squads and he says 'It's getting too dangerous out there for all of us, especially you!'" Karen muttered in a remarkable imitation. "So what if I'm not as good as Kaden and Connor, I'm probably the least fucked up of us all."
Harry chose not to comment on that situation. Karen was right. She was overlooked in favour of her brothers. "Well that's shit." Harry concluded after a drawn out silence, sipping his whiskey thoughtfully. Waiting patiently for Karen to ask what brought him to the bar. But Harry heard the normally cheerful girl sigh deeply, sipping her glass.
"I'm beginning to wonder if this is all worth it."
Harry laughed bitterly. "I've been thinking just the same thing." He said; draining the glass, noticing the bottle was almost below the halfway mark. He'd need another soon, especially if he was sharing with Karen. She could drink with the best of them when she put her mind to it; it was the wolf in her.
Karen looked up in surprise. Harry was always one of the more idealistic people in her life, hearing him so pessimistic was rare. She knew what happened with Paul had bothered him more than he would admit, he took it even harder than John who lost his best friend but Harry saw Paul's last moments. He lived them and she knew he had to live with them afterward.
"What's wrong?" Karen asked softly, her hand leaving her glass and taking his.
Harry looked down at their intertwined hands before turning his gaze on her, all ice blue eyes and luscious dark blonde hair. He loved Karen Blackwood and while he could never call her a sister, over the past nine months Karen had become one of the few people he relied on. Someone he could be himself around and let all pretences drop. She was there for him when Cho couldn't be or when alcohol didn't numb the pain. And there was always a certain spark between them which had nothing to do with her Element. "Leave it out Karen; I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Harry said looking away from her and back to his whiskey.
Unfortunately for him Karen's other hand came to the side of his face. "Tell me, it'll make you feel better," she pleaded. Karen's inhuman abilities could sense his pain, the way it weighed on his already fragile heart. A heart like his, with the expectation placed upon it could only take so much before shattering and she could feel Harry was close to breaking.
Harry smiled, Karen knew him too well. "It's going to take the rest of this bottle, at least one more and most of tonight."
"I've got all night." Karen said softly and with that smile she always reserved for him.
xxxxx
Three Days Earlier- Academy of the Element- Training Centre- Hall 1 (1145)
"So?" Boomer asked as he sidestepped a blow to his side.
"So…what?' Harry asked, advancing on the former operative, swinging the Devil Bringer faster and stronger than ever. His handling of Blue Rose was childlike by comparison to the fluid movement that came naturally with the blade in his hands.
Boomer observed his friend and soon-to-be Lieutenant. Boomer knew Harry's fighting style to the letter; it was a modified variant of Form II of the Assassin swordplay manual, Kai So. The form dictated that Harry use his rune-enhanced speed and strength to his advantage in defence, but Harry did probe in attack. Like most, his enhancements didn't make him as fast as the Major or Commander but they gave him a definite advantage over normal and low-level supernatural opponents. Harry, as his form dictated stood off, using his sword as an unwavering shield of defence, using his speed to weave, duck, dodge and await the perfect deadly counter.
He was a smart man in Boomer's book; he used the same Form. Boomer never was one for improvisation or close quarters combat; so he stuck to a standard form of combat. In all truth, Boomer preferred to blow his targets up from the safety of a few miles, or at least have his P90 or wand between himself and the target.
With the newer sword, Harry was different. He was more aggressive on attack and more clinical defensively. Boomer noticed it instantly; he could feel the magic from the sword and see the crimson halo that radiated from Harry every time he blinked. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, the magic permeating the air around him was overwhelming, enough to throw anyone slightly off balance. Boomer sidestepped another wild thrust. He was determined to win the duel; he didn't want to be Harry's next victim. He had already taken Jack, AJ, Richie and Mark to the cleaners.
"Who're you picking for your team?" Boomer asked, parrying a hard cleave to his right.
"Kaden picks the teams once he decides on the new arrivals." Harry advanced, slashing repeatedly at Boomer's flanks but Boomer frustrated every time, parrying and blocking with what looked like little effort. Harry accepted the position of Second Lieutenant the day before after some self-reflection and a talk with Master Aberforth who told him to stop being an idiot, using a few colourful and choice words to get his point across.
"No." Boomer said, catching Harry off guard by countering with a one handed parry and a kick to the mid-section, pushing Harry back. "He's letting you pick first, you're going to be wet behind the ears, so to speak. He wants you to have an experienced team."
Harry took the blow as casually as he could, although Boomer winded him. "Is he? I guess I've got myself a demolitions expert then?" Harry said stepping forward with an outstretched hand.
Boomer eyed the hand. "You think I'm that stupid?"
"Well it worked on Richie!" Harry said with a grin. Kaden was a good teacher in that respect. The duel is never over unless both parties cut it short.
"So that's why he's in a shit mood?"
Harry grinned and nodded.
"Nice one, usually only the Captain can hand Richie his ass and live to tell the tale."
"You want to cut this one short?" Harry asked. He had been training all morning so he could be doing with a rest.
Boomer closed his eyes in relief, trying to catch his breath. After an hour of duelling with his new Lt, Boomer was drenched in sweat and his arms felt like dead weights from swinging his long-sword so quickly. Unfortunately that was his last thought, Boomer's sword was knocked from his hand and he was on his ass. "The Captain taught you well, I'll give him that." Boomer admitted as he took Harry's offered hand.
"He did Boomer." Harry said as they walked from the sand training ring. A quick glance around the hall, it was mostly empty, only a smattering of Wolves, Talons and Harpies. The Ravens were out on a Grade 3- Force Recon. Sunday was the day of rest for the Academy but Harry had that much pent up magic from his joining, he barley slept and training the previous day just didn't cut it. So he recruited a few of the not busy Reapers and kicked their asses for a few hours.
"You excited about tonight?" Boomer asked. They would all be there to welcome Harry into the ranks; he would gain the coveted crimson sash of an Assassin and swear to adhere to the Three Tenants for life.
Harry nodded as he sheathed the Devil Bringer and slung the blade over his shoulder. He was feeling less energized after training all morning, but thought he could go a few more rounds. He wondered where Kaden was. He hadn't seen the Major all morning. When he thought about it, he hadn't seen his best friend much the day before either, a curious occurrence. "Not really, I'll still be me. A Reaper, all it'll mean is that it's official and I get a bigger pay check."
"Nice to know you've got your priorities straight." Boomer said with a laugh as he replaced his sword on the Reapers' rack and grabbed his bag.
Harry who only had a towel threw it around his shoulders, keeping his sword with him. "It just means I'll be getting paid more than you now!" Harry joked as they began the long walk from the training hall and back to the dorms.
"What? Don't think they pay me extra for keeping all their secrets? Who said I wanted a Lt's pay check when I have mine?"
Harry only smiled in response to his friend's evasive nature, Boomer was the oldest of the Reapers at twenty-six and he had plenty of time to refine his evasive nature in his five year in the Operative Corp. So far as Harry knew, Boomer still held his title as a Master Assassin, they may have stripped him from the Corp but they couldn't take his title. "Do you ever wish for a normal life, without all this war and killing, Elementals and stuff?" Harry asked as they passed a group of ten to twelve year old students.
They all stopped and stared in awe at the Reapers; particularly the Chosen One. He could only manage a sheepish grin as they passed, even after all his time at the Academy, Harry never got used to the staring.
Boomer gave a short laugh at Harry's actions. He was used to the adulation the squad members endured; his time with the Talons taught him that. "What the fuck would I be; a wand maker?" Boomer asked, gaining a laugh. "What's up with that question anyway? Are you getting sick of this or something?"
Harry shook his head. "No, just sometimes a normal life seems so much more appealing…you know? No threat of imminent death or anything? But if we don't do then who will?"
As they reached the walkway leading to the central spire Boomer answered. "No one, but hey, it's pretty to think that in another time and place someone would..."
"Yeah, it's pretty to think so." Harry concluded.
xxxxx
Later that Night-(2358)
Harry sat in the dark, in the living room of the apartment he shared with his friends with his fingers curled around a steaming glass of firewhiskey. His head was all over the place. He needed the cool, burning relief, it was better than blowing up half the country in an explosive fireball of magical energy. So, the whiskey in his hand was the easiest option.
Harry was happy it was only Danielle at home and she was asleep. Well as far as he knew she was asleep. He had been purposefully quiet as he wanted to wallow in self-pity, alone. It was one of his favourite hobbies.
Reflecting on his day it had been perfect. In the morning he gave a master-class to most of the Reapers which he hoped left no lingering doubt in his ability. Even the elusive Boomer had commented on his startling change in style. People were looking at him differently as well. Like when he stood before the combined squads and the other graduates, he felt their eyes upon him. Not the Major presenting him with his hidden blade and crimson sash, or the Commander who scrutinized him as he recited the Three Tenants before welcoming him into their ranks.
They were looking at Harry, plain old Harry. In that moment Harry felt he could do anything. They all knew what he was meant to do; it was never a secret to anyone at the Academy. Maybe Adam was right when he whispered in his ear as he named Harry an Assassin.
'I'm proud of you Harry; you have grown beyond our greatest expectations. You will become a beacon to us all, a light we shall follow both unwavering and steadfast. You only have to believe in yourself and remember you while you walk in light, you will never walk alone. Now rise an Assassin of the Elemental Order.' Adam may have placed the burden of expectation on his shoulders, but Harry welcomed it.
Harry departed from the scene as quietly as possible, although he had no doubt Kaden noticed. But Harry already informed him of his plan to go and see Cho and liberate Blue Rose from the clutches of the Old Man. The sword in question was sitting on the glass coffee table; in fact Harry was still in his formal attire. His girl was an entirely different story. Harry arrived at Honeydukes to find the wards already had his magical signature keyed into them; it was a simple case of breaking in. Everything went perfectly until he reached Ravenclaw tower. Cho was Head Girl so he avoided the charmed stairs of the Girls Dorms but her room was empty. Most of her stuff was there, but she was gone.
Harry then headed to the Old Man's office. When there he found the Old Man and his sword as promised. And the unwelcome addition, Cho had dropped out. She hadn't provided a reason, she just signed the papers and left. Harry got extremely pissed off at the Old Man but had to accept his reasoning. Cho was of age and by law Dumbledore couldn't stop her or make her turn in her wand, she passed her OWLs with flying colours.
Harry needed the warmth the whiskey provided, an escape when he felt so alone.
"Harry?" A soft voice asked, as its owner padded herself across the cold floor.
Harry placed his glass on the table. "It's me Danielle."
Danielle's gaze noticed the bottle registered it had just been opened. "Why are you up so late?"
Harry cocked a carefully crafted half-smile at the Veela Princess. "I'm fine, you should go back to sleep."
"I wasn't sleeping." Danielle muttered, sitting on the black leather couch next to Harry. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong then we'll both sleep easier?" Danielle said with a dazzling smile, knowing that it was every bit as fake as Harry's, but she wanted to let him know she played the lying game a lot better than he did.
"Danielle…" He hesitated. "Where's Kaden?"
"Still at work, he's staying at the Academy." Danielle said with an uneasy tone. She'd been alone before, because Kaden and the Reapers were out on missions, but Karen usually stayed or Fleur, or Penny and Camille.
Unfortunately they were all out or like Penny in France. "Enough about me; what's wrong? I thought you were going to see Cho tonight?"
Harry looked at her, her usual glow was gone, her hair was ruffled and those sparkling eyes were darkened. He sighed; Danielle was having as bad a time as he was. Harry suddenly felt ashamed that he drowned himself in alcohol while she handled everything without such a crutch. "That went to shit."
"Why?" Danielle asked, turning to face him and crossing her legs.
Harry leaned back, taking his glass with him. "She wasn't there."
"What happened?"
"She left, yesterday. She left school without even telling me." He said, almost shaking in anger as he took a large gulp from his glass.
Danielle's worried gaze followed his every movement. "She must have left for a reason. Did you check her Gran's house?"
Harry nodded.
"Did you try to?" She asked; Harry knew exactly what she meant.
He nodded solemnly. He knew what she meant. It was the reason so many magical people tended to be married and settled down by their mid-twenties. Being around another magical person, feeling so intensely for them, while it didn't form a bond like that Harry shared with his twin, it created a strong association. An association that was very hard to shake. A more powerful magic user they could use that tenuous link to gauge mood and even location but it was easily blocked out, a skilled pair of Legilmency practitioners could deepen such a connection to share thoughts.
"And?"
"You really want to know?"
Danielle nodded, shifting forward and placing a comforting hand on his arm before taking a good look at him. His face mirrored Kaden's in every way, only days after her death, empty and cold.
"Of course I do." She said reassuringly, trying to release some of her held back charm, but only enough to comfort him and distract him from his darkest thoughts.
Harry turned his gaze away, detecting the gesture and emptying his glass. "She slammed the door shut, literally. Not a scrap, she didn't even let me figure out if she was okay. I know there's something wrong. There has been for a while but-" He shook his head. "I was going to tell her, the lying was going to stop and now this. I don't know what to do; I hate not knowing what to do!"
"I know." Danielle knew all too well how it felt when someone shut up shop. Danielle watched as Harry slid forward, aiming to refill his glass, but she was quicker. She nudged the bottle just out of his reach before taking his hands into her own. Before he could object she noticed the single tear moving down his cheek and wiped it away. "We'll find her Harry, I promise."
xxxxx
The Next Day- (0725) - Squadron Briefing Chamber
Harry sat in his newly appointed seat in the conference room in silence as he awaited the rest of the Reapers. He wasn't feeling great and knew he didn't look it. It was a rough night, but he needed to get his head in the game. They were on guard rotation until the Guardians were up and running and they had a Grade 2- Recon Op on Thursday night to attend to. It was probably each team of the squad scoping out suspected Vampire and Death Eater safe houses. Nothing drastic, but Harry didn't want to turn his first command into a cluster fuck by not paying attention. The rest of the Reapers filed in over five minutes, each equally tired.
Why had Kaden called a squad meeting at half seven in the morning? A Recon briefing was usually carried out on the day, not three days early and at half seven in the morning. All of the Reapers were soon settled and waiting for the Captain. Harry looked around and found Richie observing the room quietly. AJ, Jack and Boomer were talking and Ollie was fiddling with his one of his Laptops. Mark was absent as he left the squad to become one of the Vipers' new Lts. Harry knew that was a loss, they had to integrate two newbies, and pray they didn't get themselves killed doing something stupid.
Five minutes later, as the clock struck half-seven, the door of the conference room opened and the Captain stepped in with three other bodies. The first was easy to recognize, the short black hair and dark violet eyes named him as Ross Grieg. Another was dark skinned, in complete contrast to the second, a pale fellow wearing a black leather trench coat, there where dark circles around his blood red eyes. He was vampire. Kaden moved up to the podium. "As I'm sure you have all guessed; this isn't a standard Recon Op."
Everyone nodded sleepily; even sleep deprived they weren't stupid.
"As you all know we're two short and since Major Sheppard has nothing to do until his Blue Knights arrive, he'll be joining us along with Operative Grieg. Pull up a seat Shep. Valentine will be part of our support team, covering our exfil'."
Sheppard nodded and took one of the empty seats in front the Reapers' row, he didn't sit with them. Valentine didn't outwardly acknowledge the mention of his name.
Kaden continued. "You all remember the Vampire attack that killed four of the Wolves, three of the Ravens and left Jaden and two of his boys in the infirmary?" They all remembered the siege; it was a baptism of fire for Harry. "We're taking them down." Kaden said, pushing a small button on the podium which darkened the lights and activated the projector. "Operative Grieg can take it from here." Kaden walked to his Reapers and sat down.
Rossi took centre stage and brought up a satellite image. "It's good to see you guys again, since I left, I've been working directly for the Master alongside Valentine of the Liberi." He nodded to the shadow in the corner, "I was to track down all of Vayne Khrul's associates so we could get rid of them one and for all and I found them about two months back. Now they're due for a meeting with some Circle Level Death Eaters and we're going to stop them." He turned to the satellite image. "This is the place. They moved in around a week ago. Set up everything from Anti-Apparition to Unplottable. This is one of the last images we could get of the place, and our last thermal sweep of the area showed around thirty cold and twenty warm. These guys are the priority." Rossi said hitting a button and the image flicked to a group of elder Vampires.
Boomer and Sheppard both shifted uncomfortably.
"These are the Leaders of the House of Erebus; Alexander and Amelia. This isn't going to be pretty. When we kill them the rest of the Houses will fall into a war of attrition and start killing each other for the scraps of Erebus instead of us; giving us time and room to take on some other threats."
Harry nodded along with everyone else; the reprieve would be welcome.
"Security will be increased on the day to at least fifty Vampires and ten or twenty Death Eaters, probably more."
Harry raised a hand.
"Question?"
"I'm guessing this isn't your standard storm in and kill all the bad guys' Op but are we going to have any back-up?" Harry looked around to find most of the Reapers agreeing with him. The prospect of going up against fifty vampires and twenty Death Eaters wasn't a nice thought; that was more work than even two squads could handle. Not that they wouldn't give it a fair go.
Rossi conceded. "The Talons will be onsite back up and Harpies offsite and like the Major said, Valentine and three other Liberi will be onsite. This isn't above board so we're briefing the squads separately. But since this place is in a secluded area, we're going to blow it up." Rossi said with a grin.
Harry grinned, as did the rest of the squad, especially Boomer. Vampires weren't easy to kill, but bring an entire mansion down on them and the job's halfway done; only clean-up work after.
"I thought that would cheer you all up." He paused. "The squad will go down to teams, two for the demo job, the other will find out what's going on, just in case the Intel' is inaccurate. We can't blow the place if they haven't turned up." He looked at Boomer. "You'll have plans of the building today. Pinpoint main supports and what we'll need to bring the place down."
"Not a problem." Boomer assured, with an almost gleeful grin. This was his type of mission.
Rossi finished up. "We'll be prepping for a full silver loadout. Submachine, shotguns and sidearms will be the order of the day and those of you who have wands, bring them. Make sure and take a hand to hand weapon too, if things go south. If that happens the Talons will move in and it will change to a full assault, simple smash and kill. Either way they die. Major." Rossi said stepping back as Kaden once again stood.
Harry felt the thrill of an oncoming mission, as did everyone else. It was nearly two weeks since their last mission. Being constantly on active duty and then slapped down to guard duty was nerve racking. No one wanted to lose the edge they had sharpened to perfection, the edge which kept them alive time and time again.
"This will be our first major run out for two weeks. It might seem like a milk run but those bastards will have every ward possible up and running. Lieutenant Potter you're the only one powerful enough to neutralize them and keep it quiet, we'll have a list for you soon." Kaden said.
Harry nodded. "Not a problem sir," his part would be executed flawlessly.
"After we'll all move in, but the order to pull out remains a priority. We're not risking our asses for a few low level Covens if that's all it is, but I don't doubt the intelligence reports. Report back at five on Thursday night for the final briefing and we'll square everything up before getting suited. That is all, dismissed." Kaden finished promptly, making for the exit with Rossi in tow.
Harry rose from his chair quickly and caught Kaden in the hall. "Hi mate, anyone would think you've been avoiding me."
Kaden shook his head. "Nah, I'm busy, being a Major is a lot more paperwork than a Captain."
"I want you to do something for me." Harry said.
"Anything, just ask." Kaden replied.
"I know the Operative you had look into Cho placed a tracking spell on her."
Kaden looked away guiltily.
"It's fine." Harry assured. "I know its standard procedure. I just want you to re-activate it and tell me where she is."
"Why?" Kaden asked, already knowing the answer.
Harry sighed deeply. "She left school the other day, signed out and everything. I know something's wrong and I can't find her, I need…"
Kaden placed a hand on his shoulder, knowing it was bad for him in the long run he said. "C'mon mate you're probably worrying about nothing. Mei-Lin got in last night, give it an hour and then ask her, she'll know if anything has happened. If not I'll contact McDonald and he'll reactivate it."
Harry nodded. Mei-Lin would know something; Cho was her little sister in every respect. "Okay. I'll do that but I'll see you in an hour either way."
Kaden watched him walk away. Time was running out.
xxxxx
The Office of Major Kaden Brian Andrew Blackwood (1123)
Harry stormed into Kaden's office with a halo of destructive crimson magic surrounding him. His blasting curse having torn the hardwood door from its hinges easily, sending it scraping along the floor, only halting before it barrelled through the glass desk at the far end of the office. His anger poured off him in waves and his hands slapped down on the desk, cracking and melting the glass. Harry paid no heed to the other Assassin in the room. "Kaden I swear if you've killed her, I'll-"
Kaden already standing; undeterred by Harry's display, "You'll do what? I'd be well within my rights to kill a traitor!" Kaden sneered back; he pushed a manila folder forward, flipping it open.
Harry looked down at it but refused and returned his fiery, magic filled gaze to Kaden.
"Look at it!" Kaden snarled. "Look at the faces of the people who died because of her. Each and every one of them was her fault. She knew they were tailing her and what would happen. Look at them, 'cause the Council won't be as forgiving as I was!"
Harry looked down and surveyed the people he would never know. He only read the ages, 25, 29 and 22. "But Mei-Lin said-"
Kaden interrupted again. "-Mei doesn't know a fucking thing; Chang's played you guys like a violin. She knew exactly what she was doing. Those were the Operatives ordered to follow her and Rossi was out of action for nearly a month after his crack at it. They were all tortured, branded with a Templar Cross and left to die."
"Then she's a-" Harry didn't finish, he was almost afraid too.
Rossi stepped forward for the first time. "They gave me a nice big scar to remember it. We were willing to let one Operative go, that could've been a coincidence, but three? I'm sorry, but we can't keep this from the Council forever, we have to figure out a plan." He went about fixing the door and casting the appropriate privacy wards. Many may have witnessed Harry's outburst but they didn't have to know why it happened.
Harry fell back onto one of the leather armchairs at Kaden's desk. "Where is she?" Harry bit out.
Kaden shook his head. "Harry that doesn't matter just now, look, there's no two ways about it the Council will-"
Harry looked up once again, silencing Kaden with the tempered fury in his eyes and the superheated flame curled around his fingers. "Where is she?" Harry questioned again in a controlled tone; one which bordered on anger and threat. "Kaden, I need to see her, now." Harry stated, shaking with turmoil. Harry always had a firm grasp on his emotions but it was slipping.
Kaden observed Harry, wondering if he should continue or leave it for a few days, get the next mission out the way and allow Harry to clear his head. "If you want to take some time, we can do this later. We've been stalling this for months, a few days won't matter."
Harry nodded slowly, allowing his rage to simmer. "I'd prefer that." He said his voice cracking. "I still want to see her, where is she?"
"Harry, are you-"
"Yes I'm sure," Harry said firmly, his anger finding a new target. "I want to see her."
"Take him to her."
xxxxx
Apartment of Ross William Grieg (1152)
Fifteen minutes later Harry was staring in relief at the raven haired girl across from him, wondering what to say or do. Harry watched as she stood from the single plain sheeted bed. "Don't," Harry said, "don't come any closer."
"Harry please under-"
"No," he said with complete certainty, "I fucking won't. I won't understand; I will never understand how you could do this to me, Mei-Lin or your Gran! Did you get some sort of kick out of it?" He asked scathingly. "Screwing around with us, making me fall in love with you, just so you could turn us all over to them?" He was surprised; he didn't feel anger or rage, only betrayal but it cut deeply in his gut and hurt more than the scars on his arms.
"Harry, please," Cho said, her eyes pleaded with him. Begging him to forgive her or even hit her; that would be easier to swallow than watching him crumble. "I never wanted to hurt you I just-"
"-you just what Cho?" Harry asked incredulously. "How did you think this was going to end? That you'd betray me and my friends to the Paradyne Knights, they'd give us a slap on the wrist and let us on our way?"
Unlike with Kaden, barley a day previous, Cho was too tired to shout back. "They said Assassins killed my parents Harry. They showed me pictures and memories. They constructed a world of lies; turning me against my own family. You don't know how painful it was, the loneliness I felt. My parents were dead. I had no one and I was only three. They said Assassins killed my parents and were going to take me away from them; they saved me from a fate worse than death. I was grateful for the chance to avenge my parents."
Harry turned away, looking to the window and the beautiful spring morning. Not a cloud in the sky. He couldn't afford to feel anything, lest he contemplate forgiveness.
Cho sat on the single bed, her head bowed, refusing to meet his eyes with tears trailing down porcelain cheeks. "I didn't have a choice. By the time they sent me home to I was brainwashed into their way of thinking for seven years. I couldn't understand why Mei would be one of you, or why Toa would lead you. But I failed in my mission, Mei or Uncle Tao never once approached me; they let me live a normal life. I knew I was an Elemental; I'm not the first they've indoctrinated. I went to Hogwarts and went on as a normal girl until he came to me. Cedric was one of them, he told me of my new mission." She looked up, straight into his emerald eyes. "You, you were what they wanted, the ultimate weapon against their enemies. If they could control you, it would be the end. But I…" She stammered. "I couldn't. You were just you, the way you looked at me and smiled, the way you flew, so free and without burden. How could I take that from you? How could I let you become like me? So wrapped up in self-hatred that you couldn't think straight with a lust for revenge so crippling that you didn't doubt as people you hated used you for their own ends."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. Her story may have struck a chord with him but he stood firm and unreadable.
Cho shifted forwards, passion alight in her once sad visage. "But I felt drawn to you; I could feel your power. The way it swirled conflictingly; your choices conflicting with your true destiny. I was sick yesterday, as I felt you change. Part of you was lost to me, but I don't care; they will never be able to take you like they have me. Now I know that, I'm ready to face my fate. I deserve whatever comes. People have died because of me and I should pay for that. But-" She stopped in fear, fear of rejection. Harry Sirius Potter, the Chosen One could never be with someone like her, a traitor. "I love you, I always have; it was never a lie." She said as her arms wound around his neck, laying her head on his chest. Savouring the comfort it provided.
Harry took in the moment as well; wrapping his own arms around her waist he rested a cheek against her hair as her tears stained his jacket. For a perfect moment, they stood together, forgetting the world.
Cho pulled back and looked into his electrifying emerald gaze for something. She leant to him and her lips met his hesitantly, almost as gently as their first kiss.
Harry kissed her back hungrily, his need to feel anything taking over. Passion took over as they took each other in as if for the last time. For all they knew it could be.
Cho's hands reached the zip of his jacket, dragging it downward and it was shrugged off. In seconds they had fallen to the hard bed.
Feeling her hands slowly edging south, Harry panicked, pulling away quickly. It was too much, he shouldn't have come. Harry couldn't lie to her like that, things wouldn't be okay. They wouldn't get the fairy tale ending. He needed her too much for that to happen now. Harry had to leave, Kaden was right they needed a plan. He had to secure her future and to do that he needed a clear head. To be away from the pain he felt around her.
Harry got up and staggered to the door; his head swimming with lust, betrayal and anger.
"Harry, stop…"
Before he could reach the door his hand was caught in a vice grip. Harry turned only for Cho's hands to abandon his and clamp around his neck.
"Harry, don't leave. I need you, please…" Cho stuttered, crystal tears leaking from her chocolate brown eyes. "I love you please-" She pleaded desperately, trying to kiss him only for him to turn away.
Harry felt her nose collide with his cheek and her lips trace across it softly and he pushed her away gently. He saw as the tears trailed from her eyes, down her cheeks and dripping to the floor or moistening her swollen lips. It took all his restraint not to start it over again.
"I know but I can't, love's not enough sometimes…some things just can't be forgiven so easily. I need time, I'm sorry."
xxxxx
"Oh my god," Karen's hand tightened around Harry's. They were situated in a private booth at the far end of the bar and well into the second bottle of Firewhiskey. "What are you going to do?"
Harry took a stiff drink. "They won't touch her."
Karen wasn't sure that was the whiskey talking. "Harry, we don't know what the Council will do. They won't just let her go, this is serious. Even Kaden will be punished for keeping this quiet."
Harry turned to her with fire in his eyes. "If they try to kill her, I don't care; I'll slaughter them all if I have too. Cho's been through enough in her life, she's the victim here! One of them was even short sighted enough not to see it!" Harry spat.
Karen rubbed his arm in a calming gesture. "You don't mean that." Karen said, she would never admit how startled she was by the passion in his eyes. For a moment she actually believed her Harry would carry that threat. Karen watched as he filled his glass, only to drain it, it was only her unnatural metabolism which allowed her to keep up. He deserved the release and a good night's sleep, she would be careful to sneak him a liberal amount of potion in the morning.
"I'm being serious Karen; I will kill them all if they try to hurt her and anyone who gets in my way. I'm sorry but they made me what I am and you're either going to be with me or against me. Kaden and Rossi will be; I need to know you're with me, please. I can't do this alone." Harry said, pleading with her.
Karen knew that promise was treason.
Connor would never go with it; he was always by the book and played by the Council's rules. Kaden was always a wildcard, on Harry's side through years of friendship. A schism in the Order would be devastating, Assassins were never forgiving when it came to their enemies and traitors were treated in the same respect or worse. This would be the best decision of her life or she could be condemning herself and her family name to a fate worse than death.
Karen made her decision with a glittering smile. Maybe the whiskey affected her more than she cared to admit but she squeezed his hand. "I'm always with you Harry."
Harry gave his first honest smile for three days. He laughed in relief and happiness, looking down at their intertwined hands and upward to her ice blue stare. "I love you Karen Elizabeth Blackwood."
Karen blushed, barely managing to control it as her other hand slipped under his chin and she raised his eyes to meet her own. "I love you too, Harry Sirius Potter."
Those words were always left unspoken between them. Even during their romance and the secret they had long held from Kaden. It was simply because they weren't to be. It may have felt right, but deep down they knew it was wrong. But falling back into old habits was never a bad thing. If only to be reminded of their menace or the comfort they could provide.
"Let's go home." Karen said, nudging him out of the booth.
Harry and Karen didn't speak after that moment. They didn't have to.
Not as they left the bar.
Not as they walked in their front door.
Not as they both fell into his bed together.