Nature, Magic and Loopholes
The boy woke up with a start. Well, he didn't exactly wake up so much as snap out of his catatonic state. He jerked back, scrambling to get as far away from Harry before he suddenly stopped. Harry smiled.
"I'd say good morning," the wizard said but as he looked outside, the blue outside that didn't show any difference between day and night, he couldn't tell. "But." He shrugged. "I'm sure you know how this place is."
The boy stood, eyes roving around with a panicked look. "Where am I?" he asked. The panicked was quickly masked and in its place was a firm state of resolution.
"Look down," said Harry and the boy did as told. He stood within a triangle, which sat inside a circle with a line drawn in a vertical direction through the circle but not breaking the triangle.
"This doesn't really explain much," said the boy.
"Your bound," said Harry. "I'm not too sure how long it will hold, but you're one witch who has already spent power affecting the other side. I wouldn't try breaking through."
The boy, the son of Atticus and Caitlin Shane, scowled. "I'm not scared of you," he said with enough resolution that Harry believed him.
"I'm not betting on you being afraid," said Harry. "You're my leverage. Your mother wants you alive, but I'm sure she'll rethink the way she's going about it when she hears word I have you."
His eyes grew cold and Harry felt power pour not from the earth but directly from him. His ghostly visage had been getting better as the hours had been passing but as more power poured from he looked weaker. He screamed, throwing out his arms and directing the power only for it to be stopped dead by the triangle.
"Thank you, Gregory," Harry muttered under his breath. The man might have left when Harry had died, but spells around the property hadn't let him take anything out. The works behind Symbolic Magic were still in their initial phases, but that didn't mean they didn't work. The wizard smirked. "I'm not too sure what happens when you use too much power in this place, but if I were you I'd keep the spells to a minimum."
The boy glared. "I'll get out of here," he said. "And when I do, I'm coming after you."
"Your prerogative," Harry said. "I'll be leaving now, and I wouldn't expect anyone to find you anytime soon."
Harry concentrated and then disappeared, appearing almost instantly back at the island. It was either day or night, the ground was muddy and there was the slight sign of wind blowing through the trees that surrounded him. He started walking forward until he reached the small encampment.
In retrospect telling Damon and Elena to destroy every boat on this island was not one of his brighter ideas, but at the moment he hadn't wanted Caitlin to escape and elude him while her plans moved forward. But now, with the island in shatters, the little animals that had called the place gone and Stanley starting to get hungry. He was starting to regret it.
"How'd it go?" Connor asked, the first one to see Harry. The rest were working, using crude tools trying to build themselves a boat.
"Well," said Harry. "But I'm going to have to find a Medium to spread the word. I don't think she'll believe it if it comes from either Galen or Stefan."
Connor shot him a sideway glance. "You're dealing with this whole dead thing pretty well," he commented.
Harry shrugged. "When you're me, you learn to deal with a lot," he said. "How have things been going since I left?"
"Alexander made the large one almost untie him," Connor began. "The witch acted quickly and cursed the ropes so they wouldn't come undone. Stefan found Bonnie, pointed her here and went looking for his brother, Elena and Lexi."
"No sign of Anna?"
Conner shook his head. "Maybe she returned to Mystic Falls. Isn't that kind of her kin's haunt?"
"Reason as any for us to return there as quickly as possible," said Harry.
"We?" Connor asked. "I'm sure you would be able to find her yourself no problem."
"Nature has plans set against me," said Harry. "The Bennett witches seem more in tune with Nature than any coven I've met. They'll be waiting for me I'm sure of it."
"Twelve witches against you," said Connor. "We're in for a long sentence aren't we?"
"I have the house at least," said Harry. "I'm confident the wards that hold it are still strong."
"What about Silas?" Connor asked.
"I'm thinking of a very wildcard that will, more than anything, want Silas dead."
Galen stopped and turned to the pair, looking Harry with an amount of fear shinning in his eyes. "No," he said with a fervent shake of his head. "You're not talking about him are you?" he asked dropping his tools and walking closer to the pair.
Connor looked between the two in confusion. "Anyone care to fill me in?"
"This nutter is thinking about bringing in Kol," said Galen. "That's one of the most stupid ideas I've ever heard."
"Pretty smart actually," Harry said in defence of himself. "Two beasts that can't be killed going against each other." Harry scratched his chin. "I'll have to think of a way to get past the barriers though."
"No," said Galen again. "There's no way I'm going back to Mystic Falls if you're going to ask Kol for help."
"I have to agree with Galen on this," said Connor. "The Originals are loose cannons. Trying to get them to help will result in more bad than good."
"Not when you point them towards something," said Harry. "Both Silas and two members of his cult are probably in Mystic Falls. He'll want to know and he'll want to make sure that whatever he feared doesn't come true."
"What about Klaus?" asked Connor.
"Elijah gave me his word he would stop him from ever returning to Mystic Falls. All the Originals are big on keeping their word."
Galen shook his head. "I'm out," he said. "The moment we're off this island I'm on my own again. I don't want to be anywhere near Kol if he's coming," and before Harry could convince him otherwise the man walked off.
Harry sighed. "Do you mind keeping an eye on him? He and Mark are sort of my strung-out plan B."
"A lot of plans you have that you aren't sharing," said Connor.
Harry waved it off. "I'll tell you later. I'm off to look for my Medium."
"Okay."
Harry disappeared.
Harry appeared in a study. It was familiar in that he'd seen it once before, but beyond that it was strange. Magic on this side acted in a different manner. Harry might have been able to sense it before, but now he had a sensitivity to it. Where he stood for example. He could feel that it wasn't like the rest of the Other Side; He felt as though there was something he wasn't seeing, as though there was another world in front of him but he just couldn't see it.
The wizard pushed aside and took in the room in full detail. It looked lived in, but there was a coldness to it, as though whoever used it had been gone for a long time. Harry walked out of the room and into a hall, he walked around the ground floor which was comprised of a living room, a kitchen and three drawing rooms, the first floor was comprised of bedrooms, the first of which there was a familiar sleeping figure.
"Explains where she went," Harry muttered to himself as he watched the sleeping form of Hayley. Memories of her betrayal bubbled up, but Harry pushed these memories aside as well. He had a mission here and that was the most important thing.
He moved into another room which was empty, two more and it was occupied by Elijah, the next by Rebekah and the last by the man Harry was looking for. "Wakey, wakey my favourite Original."
Niklaus jerked awake and his eyes fell on Harry. The man dropped back on his bed and let out a long drawn out sigh.
"You know, I'd thought I'd be rid of you since I agree with Elijah's demands," Niklaus said.
"Oh, come now, Niklaus. I thought you'd be happy I got rid of the voice in your head telling you to kill yourself," Harry said.
Niklaus sat up and put on the façade of a smile. "What do I owe the pleasure?" he asked with false cheer.
"Loathe as I am to admit it, I need your help," said Harry.
The façade slipped and Niklaus' smile turned into a smirk before he chuckled and got to his feet, and in quick motions grabbing a robe from and donning it. "The great, Harry Potter asking for my help," said Niklaus. "I think I'll enjoy this."
"It's not help so much as I want, more than for you to deliver a message to your brother."
Niklaus snorted, a look of insult appearing on him. "I'm no one's messenger," said Niklaus. "You can tell Elijah whatever what you want to say yourself. Leave me before I decide to snap your neck."
Harry didn't budge. "How about this," he said. "I give you the best news you could hear and you deliver my message."
Niklaus looked at Harry with a matter of interest. "Go on."
"I need your word first," the wizard said.
Niklaus shrugged. "I give you my word that if you news can be classified as the best news I could hear, then I'll pass on your message."
"Okay, then," Harry paused for dramatic effect. "I'm dead," he said and he walked through the bed to show this off.
Niklaus laughed. A full belly laugh that had his eyes watering. The man laughed so much that Harry felt he might have been intruding on a private moments. But after a minute had passed and Niklaus continued laughing Harry felt a little insulted.
He concentrated, pushing power and intent into the spell. "Silencio." The laugh was abruptly cut off and Harry felt as though he had run three times around the world. He looked at his hand and it looked a little paler, though not see-through.
"Okay, enough with the bloody laughing, you need to pass on my message to Kol. Silas is going to Mystic Falls. I'm willing to help deal with the mess, but it has to be on my terms."
Niklaus scowled and tried to speak, sound came out. Harry noticed that his spell broke faster from this side. Maybe they needed to be bound to something that was on the other side.
"Kol?" Niklaus asked. "I'll pass on that ominous message, but it will be a little difficult for him to go to Mystic Falls seeing as he's daggered and hidden by my enemy," he said.
"Tell me you're joking," said Harry, deadpan. Niklaus said no such thing. The wizard let out a long drawn-out sigh. "Bloody hell, nothing ever goes well for me does it?" he asked no one in particular.
Niklaus grinned.
"How can you be grinning when your brother lays daggered somewhere?" Harry asked.
Niklaus shrugged. "We can't be killed," he said. "It sort of make worrying about such things redundant."
Harry could only shake his head. "I'll help you find him," the wizard said.
"Well, aren't you desperate," Niklaus said his grin still plastered on. "Willing to help me of all people."
"Don't remind me," said Harry. "Can we hurry this along? I have plots in motion that I need to look over."
"I should probable wake up the others," said Niklaus. "But you're dead, you have all the time in the world." Niklaus moved with a flash of motion and was back in his bed. "You're free to watch me sleep. I'm guessing your kind doesn't have that luxury. Just don't think this will make me fall for you. "
"You are such a tosser," Harry muttered.
Niklaus' only answer was a broader grin.
Harry spent his time moving around the house and when that bored him he turned his boredom into figuring out where he was. After hours of walking the wizard finally found that he was in the French Quarter. Harry wondered if Niklaus and his family had anything to do with the vampire horde that supposedly called this place home, but Harry had heard of that particular horde while Niklaus was still in Mystic Falls. But there had to be some connection between the two.
It was strange though, Harry though as he began walking back to the Mikaelson Manor House, this place was supposed to be home to the more powerful covens and yet there was not a single spirit of the witches who would have died through the centuries. It was something to think about.
It must have been morning when Harry arrived because the household was waking up. Rebekah from the sound of it was in the shower, Niklaus in a study while Elijah and Hayley were talking in the kitchen. They were the first he came across and Harry gaped.
"Merlin's beard she's pregnant," the wizard said.
"Oh," Harry heard Niklaus say. "You're back. For a second I thought last night might all have been a wonderful dream."
Hayley and Elijah paused. "Who's he talking to?" Hayley asked Elijah. The Original shrugged, though there was a look of worry on him.
"Careful, Niklaus," said Harry. "More of this and I might think you don't like me."
"Oh, no," said Niklaus. "Me not liking you. Dispense of such thoughts."
"Brother," said Elijah. "Might you be so kind as to explain to me who you're talking to and why we can't hear him or her?"
"I think they think you're a nutter," Harry said with a large smile. "Which is something I might enjoy all things considered."
"Harry Potter has seen fit to visit us from beyond the grave," Niklaus said.
"No. They don't think it anymore. They know. They know you're crazy."
Elijah was on his feet and starting in a slow walk towards the study, a look of worry on him. "Harry Potter is dead?" Elijah asked and he didn't hide his disbelief. "Pray tell, what gave you that idea?"
"It's not an idea but a fact," said Niklaus. "As I've told you many times. I've recently acquired the ability to see dead people."
"Who sees dead people?" asked Rebekah with a look between his brothers.
"Klaus," said Hayley. "Apparently."
"Gone around the twist haven't we brother?" Rebekah asked with a little smirk.
Niklaus only sighed and looked to Harry who was barely holding back a snicker. "Do something will you," he said. "I find I don't often like my sanity being questioned."
"I find I like your sanity being questioned."
"Yes, but you have to consider. If my sibling and, as Rebekah affectionately refers to her, my baby momma—"
"Holy Merlin, the child's yours?"
"—believe I'm insane it doesn't too well in getting Kol back does it?"
"I know you make a good point, but I still can't get over two facts; one, you and Hayley had sex and two she got pregnant. You're dead. That's not supposed to be possible. That's can't be possible. Are you sure it's yours?"
"My thoughts exactly on the matter," said Niklaus. "I'm told it's because of Nature, Magic and loopholes."
"Okay, so it's plausible then. But what about the fact that she doesn't like you. I wouldn't be wrong in saying she borderline hates you."
Niklaus smirked. "You can blame that on my charm and a very liberal amount of scotch."
Hayley grabbed at her stomach, guessing that they were talking about her and her baby.
"Merlin's brilliant beard. I find this hard to believe. Extremely hard. So hard in fact that I might need to lock myself in a room and just deal."
"You know," said Rebekah as she took a seat on a sofa. "This is actually fun to watch. My older brother growing crazy. Maybe he's finally growing a conscious. His crimes back to haunt him in the only person who's ever beaten him."
Hayley snorted, not hiding her small smile.
"Or it could be the Curse," said Elijah. He pulled out his phone. "I need to make a call."
"The only people who know of my death don't have network coverage, as I've been told," said Harry, "and I don't want Elizabeth finding out about this, so do you mind stopping him?" Harry asked Niklaus.
The man only reclined. "I'll leave that to you," he said in answered.
"Odd," said Elijah. "But none of the vampires in Mystic Falls are answering. Perhaps I should call the Sheriff." Niklaus smirked and Harry sighed.
"Expelliarmus," he said and this spell didn't take so much out of him as the last, but it was still as though he had run across the world only stopping halfway from going around.
The phone was not thrown out of Elijah hand as it should have, but it was more jolted out of his grip and dropped to the ground. The vampire caught it before it hit the ground.
Niklaus smiled a triumphant smile.
"Now," he said. "Don't you all feel stupid for doubting me?"
No one answered. Harry wasn't sure that they could answer from the looks of shock that came from them.
"Harry's dead?" asked Hayley and Rebekah only said, "Huh."
"I'm curious. Who killed him?"
Niklaus looked at Harry.
Harry shrugged. "Fate," he said.
"Fate," Niklaus
"Fate?" asked Elijah. "What does that mean?"
"Events were engineered but abstract entities to get me to this point as far as I can figure it. Yeah," said Harry. "I know. It's pretty farfetched but if you knew what I know you'd think it as well."
"Seeing as Nature itself has engineered this baby to paint a target at my back, I'm given to believing that," said Niklaus.
Hayley frowned and shook his head. "Working hard for that father of the year award, aren't you?" she muttered.
Niklaus didn't answer. Harry joined in the shaking of the head. "I'm more than a little interested to see how all this plays out," Harry muttered. "But I sort of have a deadline. Hours have passed and Silas might be making his way to Mystic Falls. I don't know when he'll arrive, but I need Kol there as soon as possible."
"Why Kol?" asked Niklaus.
"I'm bored," said Rebekah. "Listening to one-sided conversations is not my definition of fun. I'm going out."
Hayley looked almost jealous at Rebekah's words. There was something to that, but Harry had greater things to worry about.
"He'll know the gravity of the situation," said Harry.
"Rebekah's right," said Elijah. "This has grown tiresome. I have reading to do. Perhaps mother's spell book will have an answer for us."
"I'll help you with that," said Hayley. She cast a look across the room before she exited.
"The gravity being?" Niklaus said ignoring them.
"To tell you that would distract you from whatever it is you're doing here and you might have to go back to Mystic Falls. I can't have that."
"And yet you still expect my help."
"As I see it, I'm helping you," said Harry. "You gave me your word you'd deliver my message. I'm helping you keep it."
"Ah, but I didn't give you an amount of time before I delivered that message, did I?" Niklaus asked. "So long as Kol doesn't die, which is sort of hard to do seeing as he's an Original, I have all of eternity to deliver your message."
Harry smirked. "I'll give you three days before you're ready to speak to me," he said and he put on the hood of his Cloak and disappeared from the view of the Immortal.
He had work to do and when he was done Harry felt much like a ghost, as though he was teetering between this side and whatever lay beyond. The thought occurred to Harry maybe if he spent enough power he would move on, but there was something to that thought that scared him. He'd long gotten rid of his fear of Death, so it only made sense that whatever fate was beyond was bad.
The wizard spent his time recuperating in the house in Godric's Hollow, thinking of what he'd heard and what he would do. Bree had informed him that she had fought three spirits already and come out on top in two occasions. Harry gave her a few more days before she had everything and the ritual prepared, then it would only be a matter of time and power, with one of Harry's most dangerous spells known to another witch.
Harry was not excited about that, but it had to be done. He was less powerful on this side, his magic not have much effect on the other side and draining every time he tried. But he had somewhat of a loophole. Nature was more powerful on this side, meaning there was a more direct stream source of power Harry and the witches on this side, could use. Harry's natural state of magic wasn't compatible in this sort of way, every spell he used can from his own personal store, from his core. But with Symbolic Magic this was different, which was the reason Harry had taken to using it.
Symbolic Magic could only get him so far though. If he ventured anywhere near Mystic Falls, Harry was afraid that he might fall prey to the spells of the Bennett coven. It was safer in Godric's Hollow, where he had enough power that whoever came here would be at the disadvantage.
Now all he had to do was wait for his plans to set into motion.