Puck was kind of amazed that he had basically shared the most painful part of his life with someone he met only two days ago. He was even more amazed that he wasn't bothered about that at all. Somewhere between all the magic lessons and stories Harry had become pretty damn important, and not just because the green eyed boy was his only link to magic.

It could have been the way he patiently explained anything Puck asked about the magical world. It might have something to do with the look on Harry's face anytime he talked about his past. Puck wasn't stupid and Harry had let some pretty big pieces of information slip. Obviously the boy had been though a lot in his seventeen years, but still found sympathy with Puck's teenage high school drama. And, ok, it could probably be the way Harry had felt in his arms that morning when Puck woke up with a face full of wild raven hair and drool sliding down his chest.

To be honest it was probably a mix of all those things plus more that Puck couldn't even define that had drawn him to Harry. He couldn't even name what he felt for the teen, but what ever it was had him frozen in fear as he watched Harry squeeze between the boulders and out of sight. If fact, he was more scared now than when he had first turned around to see the giant tree monsters behind him.

Hearing a story about a small boy fighting a giant beast was completely different than watching it happen and knowing you can't do anything about it. He sat there completely helpless as Harry went off to slay monsters to keep them safe. Magic had always been his dream, and up until this moment it had been a dream. Find a wand on the beach and bam! magic. See a pretty unicorn or a fluffy pink ball, wave the wand a bit make a rock or two float. It was all something out of a fairy tale. Even listening to Harry talk about what he had been through were stories, fantastic tales. He knew they were probably real, had seen the scars, but it just hadn't clicked.

Seeing Harry's face as he told them to stay there, that was the catalyst. That's when it clicked. This was a whole new world and he had no fucking clue what the rules where. What was possible and what was impossible? Cause if you had asked Puck a week ago, he would have told you it was pretty damned impossible to almost piss yourself in fear of a goddamned tree.

Harry's face though, he couldn't help but see it is his mind as he sat there listening to Harry's voice shouting over the rumbling from the running monsters and explosions. He had seen Harry's face a lot in the last few days, had watched the other teen blush when Puck flirted. Puck had seen Harry laugh over their stupid stories. He had even seen Harry angry when he talked about his past. That had been a bit scary, to see this small teen sparking with magic and angry but that had been easy to dismiss. A few jokes and Harry was laughing and talking again.

Puck knew, without a doubt, he would never dismiss the look on Harry's face then. It made all those badasses in juvie look like schoolyard bullies. It was like the boy transformed into a soldier right before their eyes. It was hard to remember the same boy who had blushed and scrambled off him this morning was the man in front of them. He resolved never to make a comment about his own badassness again. No amount of tough talk or punching would make this problem go away. But he also resolved to learn everything he possibly could about the magic world. How could he expect to protect himself let alone anyone else if he was content to float rocks and catch fish. Puck wondered if it was normal for his new hero and role model to be the same age as him.

A loud cry cut through his thoughts. Puck could only assume it was one of the monsters, but how could a monster's cry be so heart wrenching. Puck listened as it screamed, the sound was too much for him. He tried to cover his ears but the sound couldn't be stopped. The cries cut off abruptly and it was eerily quiet, nothing made a sound until a deep bellow of rage and grief tore through the air. Puck wiped angrily at his face, his fingers coming away wet. These were monsters! They were not supposed to have feelings, or cause any in him! Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mike and Finn copying the gesture themselves.

The slamming of the earth as the giant ran grew farther away until it was silent behind their rock. Minutes passed and still no sign of the monsters or Harry.

"Do you think he's alright?" Finn asked quietly.

"I don't know, Finn. He looked...he looked like he knew what he was doing," Mike answered.

"Should we go and find him?"

"No!" Puck snapped. "He went out there to protect us! It would be shitty to go against that and get ourselves killed by not listening. Plus what the hell are we gonna do? Throw rocks at it? No, we stay here. His shield is still up, so he has to be ok. He has to," Puck trailed off in a whisper to himself.

More minutes passed in silence, Puck straining his ears with hope to catch any slight sound. Suddenly Harry's voice rang out from the other side of the rock. Puck hadn't even heard him come up.

"You guys alright?"

"Harry! You're ok! We thought you were done for!" Puck jumped up from where he had been sitting leaned against the rock, but he still didn't leave from inside the purple shield.

"Hey, I'm coming back. I've got a...friend with me. Don't freak out. OK?"

The first thing Puck say come around the corner was a huge, green, hairy paw. The paw was shortly followed by a wolf the size of a Clydesdale he had seen at a fair once, which Puck supposed was appropriate because Harry was riding it like one. Beside him Finn yelped and scrambled backwards. Puck was looking at Harry, who seemed to be at ease on the huge creature.

"Hey, Harry? What uh...what's that?" Mike asked, his voice quivering slightly.

"I don't really know, but he helped me out and chased one of those monsters away. He said he wouldn't eat me and offered to give me a ride, so I think he's safe."

"He said?" Finn squeaked.

"Yeah. Looks like he can understand English, said he wanted to join us." Harry untangled the one of his hands from the the long shaggy fur and patted the side of the wolf's neck. "Can you let me down?" The wolf gracefully laid on the ground, and Harry slid a leg over to drop the few inches to the ground. As soon as one of his legs hit, he let out a pained cry and fell to the ground. Puck ran to him, the shield bursting as soon as he passed through.

He was by Harry's side in a moment, helping the boy to sit. "What is it? Did you get hit?"

"No, I fell. Pretty sure I broke something, but I didn't want to waste time getting over here. I needed to know you all were safe," Harry told him.

"We are all fine. Can I help you fix it?" Puck offered.

"Uh. Yeah. Just give me a minute." Puck watched as Harry ran diagnostic charms over himself, detailing everything for Puck's benefit. The only help he could offer was to hold Harry's leg straight when he cast the spell to fix it. Minutes later, Harry was fixed but tired. He insisted on a ward around them, so Puck steadied him with an arm around his waist as he walked in a large circle casting the temporary ward. Puck helped him to sit leaning against the rocks as the others got out the food so they could eat.

"So... what happened, Harry?" Finn asked tentativel. They were siting in a rough circle and the wolf was still laying the the same spot, it's massive head laying on it's paws at it watched them.

Harry sighed, closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the stone. He spoke without looking at them, but all three of them were riveted anyway. "I tried to lead them away from you. Every time I sent a spell at them they would regenerate as if it never happened. The wood from their bodies would just grow up around the holes like it never even happened. I figured that if they were made of wood, then the solution would be fire. I used a spell taught in Herbology for burning piles of plant clippings. It basically starts a fire from the inside out." Harry shivered. "I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what happened. It just started screaming. It had been trying to kill me, but I stood there watching it burn and just knew that I had done something wrong."

Harry went silent for a moment, then lifted his head up to look them in the eye. "But I would do it again, and I did. I sent the same spell at the other one, even though I knew it was wrong. I have fought too long and hard to give up, not when I have the power to do something about it. I wouldn't-" Harry's voice broke slightly "I wouldn't have attacked them if they had left us alone. I wasn't looking to hurt them, but I had to protect us even if t was at their expense." Harry looked at them as if trying to plead for understanding.

"I know, Harry. We heard when it- well we heard," Puck told him gently.

It was silent a moment before Finn spoke. "So did you kill them both?"

Harry flinched slightly. "No. I sent the spell, but it didn't hit. Nothing I did would effect it. It just kept coming. I got cornered and tripped, fell down a hill. I ended up on my back, unable to move as the creature came over the hill. I was done for, but he saved me," Harry said pointing to the wolf. "Came right over another hill and just launched himself right over me and landed between us. It was insane, he was terrifying. The creature must have thought so too, because after a few minutes it just turned around and left. The rest you know. He decided to come with us and gave me a ride back," Harry finished. He let his head fall back against the rock, closing his eyes again.

"For what it's worth, Harry, thank you. We would have died without you," Puck said lowly. Harry gave a slight nod, but didn't open his eyes. Puck decided to let Harry rest for the moment, he definitely looked like he needed it. The huge green wolf had stayed silent the entire time its three long tails tucked in against its side, watching and listening to Harry tell the story. Puck moved over to a few feet in front of the wolf, and it raised it's head and looked him in the eye.

"So you can understand me, huh?"

The wolf looked at him for a few moments before nodding.

"Can you talk?" A shake of his massive head. "Are you like an animagus thing like Harry?"

"You know, I never thought to ask that," Harry said, his eyes now open looking at the wolf for an answer, which was a no.

"So you're not a human." Shake. "Are you a really weird wolf?" A growl and emphatic shake.

"So what are you then," Finn asked.

The wolf opened his massive jaws revealing sharp white teeth, then snapped it shut.

"He can't talk, Frankenteen!" Puck rolled his eyes and turned back to his one sided conversation. " So you're coming with us. Do you have a name?" The not-wolf gave what Puck assumed was a canine version of a shrug and shook his head.

"I call dibs on naming him!" Puck excitedly called out, raising his hand to emphasize the point. The not-wolf actually rolled his eyes at Puck and stood up and walked over only to collapse near Harry, its massive head laying right up against Harry's side. Even though his eyes were closed again, Harry immediately reached over and started running his hand through the not-wolf's fur. "What? I'm good at naming things! Just ask Barbie."

"His name is not Barbie, Puck!" Finn snapped.

Puck ignored him. "I think we should name him Hulk. It fits, right? Huge, green, scary, could probably crush you with a single hand er... paw. And did you see his eyes? They're purple! Doesn't the Hulk have purple eyes?"

"No, his eyes are green too. I think his shorts are purple, though," Mike answered.

"See! There you go. It fits," Puck decided.

"Shouldn't he have a say, since it is his name," Mike asked.

Puck rolled his eyes. "Of course he likes it. What do you say, Hulk?" The not-wolf raised his head slightly and met Puck's eyes for a moment before laying back down again with a huge huff. "See! He totally digs it!"

They stayed at their small camp for another hour or so. Harry rested against Hulk the entire time, and no one disturbed either of them. By the time they set out again the sun had reached the center of the sky and Harry was back to full health. Hulk bounded along beside them most of the time, but sometimes disappeared for long stretches of time. For such a large animal, it made absolutely no noise as it moved with them through the rocky hills.

They kept closer together this time, not wanting to take the chance of anything else happening and splitting them up. They had been walking for a few hours when a large lake came into view as they climbed over another hill. Even Puck thought the sight was stunning. It was completely surrounded by hills and it was so large he couldn't see the far shore. The side they were on had a slow moving river that trailed into the lake.

"Wow! It's beautiful! Can we rest there?" Finn asked excitedly, so the ventured down the hill they had been looking from, making for the shore.

Puck had been preparing himself since coming across the creatures for what they might encounter next. He had not been prepared to come across a naked woman sunbathing. The four boys came to an immediate stop upon seeing a woman stretched out on a brown blanket, soft milky white skin was bared for all to see. Her eyes were closed and her long brown hair was fanned out around her head like a halo.

After a speechless moment Hulk barked loudly behind him, alerting the woman to their presence. Puck sent him a glare, but quickly looked back at the woman. Her panicked eyes snapped open when she sat up and faced them. All of them gasped at the sight. Her eyes were completely chocolate brown, no white or pupil. They stood out noticeably against the white of her skin. The boys were still staring open mouthed when she stood quickly wrapping her blanket around herself and running for the water. As Puck watched the blanket seemed to glow and fold around her. Moments later the woman was gone and a seal was disappearing into the gentle waves of the lake and then nothing.

"So...uh. That just happened," Puck said.

Harry snorted beside him, and sat down on the shore. The rest took the hint and also sat down, every one of them facing the water, while Hulk went to the edge to drink from the lake.

"Any clue about that one, Harry," Finn asked.

"Actually yes. I finally know one." Harry laughed. "If I am not mistaken, that was a selkie. My friend Hermione told me about them. There aren't anymore in the wild. Well, they aren't supposed to be. Selkies are a type of faery. They are a seal like creature that can come ashore and shed their skin and become a human, then they can put it back on and return to the water again."

"So where did they all go?" Mike asked.

"Now that is why my Hermione got involved. Turns out, they can't return to the water without their skin, so if a human steals it the selkie will stay with them until they can get it back. They are gentle creatures, completely non violent. Evidently men, muggles and wizards alike, would hunt them down, steal their skins and force them to live as perfect wives."

"Damn, I knew I should have took her 'towel'," Puck joked, but his laughter was immediately cut off by a fierce glare from Harry and a menacing growl from Hulk where he had settled down behind the green eyed wizard. Puck raised his hands in surrender, "Was just joking," he mumbled.

"Really not funny. They were basically enslaved and turned into baby machines. They were meant to be free, and in the water. Not trapped in some perverted man's house washing dishes. Eventually they were all gone. There are a lot of people with selkie blood in them, beautiful men and women who usually have an affinity for the water, but can't really connect to it in the way they should have been able to," Harry finished passionately, Hulk nodding along with him.

"So she was a fairy then? I thought fairies were like Tinkerbell. Tiny, cute, humans with wings," Finn said.

Hulk scoffed, and they all turned to him. "You know about fairies, then?" Harry asked. Hulk rolled his eyes, and thumped his tail on the ground.

"Is that a yes? Like one for yes two for no?" Finn asked.

Hulk shook his head. He then raised a massive paw and ran it over his head like he was cleaning himself, then looked at them all meaningfully.

Puck looked at him confused. It was Harry, of course, who got it. He gasped said, "You mean you are a faery?"

Hulk nodded happily. "Holy shit. That just blew my mind," Puck told him. "Definitely not a cute blonde thingy." Hulk just stared at him before flopping onto his side and closing his eyes, apparently done answering questions.

"What else do you know about faeries?" Finn asked Harry.

"Not much. I only know about selkies so much because of their history and my friend tries to help creatures that have been taken advantage of. I mean I know they are not all like Tinkerbell, but we didn't really cover them in Care of Magical Creatures."

"If I had went to magic school I would have learned everything I could," Finn grumbled.

"What are you trying to say, Finn?" Harry wanted to know.

"I'm just saying you are supposed to be the wizard, but you don't even know about fairies. Now we are out here not knowing anything because you didn't pay attention in school."

"Whoa, Finn. It's not Harry's fault," Mike said.

"Damn, right. What the hell is your problem, man?" Puck demanded.

"My only problem is that we are in danger and he can supposedly fight of a giant snake but not a tree? Then he brought a giant monster back to us and didn't even know what it was!"

"Oh, please, Finn. Tell me everything you know about Australian animals. After all, they are muggle animals so you must know all about them, right? They are in your world after all. Tell me what does a wombat look like?" Harry snapped.

Finn just glared silently, clearly not having a comeback for that one. "Exactly. You can't expect me to know everything. I spent the last two years training for war, not for working in a bloody zoo. I don't where all this is coming from, but you need to stop."

"Oh? What are you going to do? Cast a spell on me? Figures."

"No, I won't. But I have no problem punching you. If it wasn't for me you would probably be dead, and you surely wouldn't know your own brother was safe. So you need to just cool the hell off."

"He's right, Finn. He just saved your life," Puck told him.

"Shut up, Puck. You've wanted to get in his pants ever since the plane. Now your just like him, a magic using freak!" Finn shouted.

Harry recoiled so fast it looked like he had been struck. Hulk stood up, towering over Harry who barely came to his chest, and started growling at Finn. Harry didn't say anything more, just stood up and walked away. With another snarl directed at Finn, Hulk turned to follow, keeping pace with the wizard.

"What the actual fuck, Finn!" Puck yelled, standing up.

"It's not fair!" Finn shouted back and stood up too, using his height to stand over Puck. "He gets to use magic, and doesn't even learn about fairies. Fairies, Puck! And then you get magic. You! How is that fair? Why not me?" Finn yelled, slapping a hand to his chest. "I get to be chased by tree monsters, but I don't get magic! I get to watch you, that's it!"

"So you attack Harry, the guy that just saved your life, because you're a jealous little shit." Puck said. "You want to talk about what's fair? How is that fair to him?" Puck walked away before he did something really satisfying, like breaking the bastards nose.

Puck jogged down the beach looking for Harry until he found the boy sitting in the sand looking out at the water, his back resting against Hulk who had curled around him. Both looked up at him as sat down beside Harry, but Hulk put his head back down, content to just ignore him.

"I'm sorry about Finn. He's jealous that we have something that he doesn't."

Harry scoffed. "Sadly, I'm used to it." Harry laughed without humor. "It looks like even on a desert island I can't get away from peoples expectations."

Puck leaned in so their sides were touching and gently nudged him. "I can go punch him if you want," Puck offered. "Really. I don't mind."

Harry chuckled. "No. It's fine. Can't having you punch your best friend."

"We haven't really been as close since I got his girlfriend pregnant anyway," Puck shrugged.

"Oh! That was Finn? You never said."

Puck shrugged again. "Besides he might be my friend, but your my..." Puck trailed off.

Harry looked him in the eyes. "Your what?" he asked quietly.

Puck was looked at him for a moment in silence. "I don't know. But you're my something."

With that he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Harry's. It was chaste, and he pulled back searching Harry's face for permission. Finding it, he leaned back in, closing his eyes and savoring the kiss. Harry was still for a moment before his lips began to move against Puck's. After a moment, he felt Harry's hand come up to caress the back of his head and run his fingers through his mohawk. Puck's hands found their way to Harry's waist. The position was a bit awkward as they were still sitting side by side up against Hulk, but Puck didn't mind. He ran his tongue lightly along Harry's bottom lip, seeking entrance.

A sudden noise behind them had them breaking apart instantly and turning to see Mike run up the beach.

"Harry! Puck! It's Finn!" Mike yelled.

"Whatever it is can wait. We're busy," Puck told him.

"No! It can't! We were exploring the beach. Went to the river. There was a horse stuck." Puck felt Hulk tense behind him. "Finn wanted to help, but I thought we should wait. He went to it anyway. But it wasn't a horse, man." Mike told them, shaking his head and his eyes wild. "It was not a horse."

Hulk was already on his feet racing down the shore by the time Mike finished. Three boys ran after him, hoping they made it in time.

AN: Yay! new chapter. Lots went down! I would love some feedback. Thanks much for all the reviews on the last chapter. I get so happy when I get the notification indicating a new review. Happy writer means happy readers! (Hint hint)