Out Of The Darkness

Chapter 29

Sparkles aka Gringotts and Surprises

"We can't keep doing this Ron," said Hermione, shushing the crying little girl as she rocked her back and forth. She was exhausted, trying to look after Molly Weasley, the tiny seven month old girl. She was Ginny Weasley's daughter, the father was either Dean Thomas or Finnegan. Ginny didn't seem to care who the father was. Or her daughter for that matter, she constantly dropped the child off at any of her brothers houses or parents. Today it was Hermione and Ron, nothing they did calmed the cranky child. It wasn't fair on their kids either, Hugo or Rose.

"I know," sighed Ron, Hermione had called him home from work, he was working in the Ministry of Magic. He had gone through Auror training and become of the best, especially in strategy planning and statistics. It was his ability to plan and predict movements that had pulled him up the ladder. He was the team captain, the leader of his team. He still answered to the head of the department, not that Ronald Weasley was complaining. "Where is she this time?"

"Need you ask?" asked Hermione bitterly, as the child finally began to quieten down. She was beginning to think the baby was coming down with something. She wasn't normally as fussy as this, especially when one of them were holding her. She suspected Ginny left the baby by herself, so much that little Molly just loved being held and having attention on her.

"The pub," said Ron sadly, his sister had gone well of the rails, she'd gotten pregnant at nineteen with Draco Malfoy's child. Of course when Draco had no intention of marrying her, or providing her with the money she wanted, she had aborted the child. Much to her family and surprisingly Draco's disgust and shock. Molly had been furious with her, a hair length from disowning her. Children were cherished in the wizarding world, when someone aborted it was always only as a last resort.

Hermione just gave him a pointed look, sighing in relief as Molly finally drifted off to sleep. "Where is your mum? She should be here with the potions!" said Hermione as she placed the baby in Rose's old Moses basket. Ginny had as always dropped her off without so much as a bottle.

"I think that's her," said Ron opening the door for his mum, his face filled with exhaustion.

"Again?" asked Molly bustling in, checking on the child.

"I just got her down," said Hermione, "Did you not speak to Ginny?"

"I've tried," sighed Molly, "Nothing I say matters, I'm truly worried especially about this little one." her daughter had so much potential, she could have had a Quidditch career but no. She thinks its better to keep pulling get rich fast schemes. First with Draco Malfoy then Zabini of course all failed they weren't oblivious to her actions. To make matters worse her last scheme had been the worst, she had got engaged to a rich Muggle, pregnant as well, then the week before the wedding Ginny finally found out what a Prenup meant and left the man high and dry at the alter. They had stupidly thought she had changed, then she admitted she was already pregnant when she got with the Muggle. That Molly was either Finnegan or Thomas', The men tried to be there for the child, but Ginny was making it next to impossible. Demanding money so they could spend time with the child. In the end they'd demanded a paternity test, which they would know the results of in a week. Apparently they were back logged at the lab at St. Mungo's. The money she just spent in the pubs getting drunk or on herself. She constantly asked for money from her brothers, for Molly to buy things for her. In the beginning they had agreed, but inevitably they just bought her what she needed. That way they at least knew Molly was getting the stuff she needed.

"We have to do something, we can't keep letting Molly go with her," said Hermione, Molly deserved a stable loving life, not passed on to anyone that would look after her.

"I know sweetie, but what can we do?" asked Ron hugging Hermione close. He didn't like it any better than she did, Ginny always showed up drunk as a skunk. They hated handing her over, and worse that Ginny just kept dumping her on everyone.

"She stays here, if Ginny knows what's good for her she'll sign the papers," said Hermione grimly.

"Papers?" asked Ron as always five steps behind his smart wife.

"We are adopting her," said Hermione, the look on her face told him not to argue and she wasn't to be trifled with.

Molly looked down at her grandchild, named after her and she felt deeply conflicted. On one hand she would be happier here, on the other she wasn't ready to give up on her only daughter. Yet she knew Ginny wouldn't change on her own, something or someone had to wake her up. How had she turned out so different from everyone else? She had thought Ginny would settle down and have children with Harry. She would have everything Molly had been unable to give her as a child. Not only had she thought it but her girl had as well. Now she was sleeping with anyone who had money, getting pregnant then trying to force them to marry her. She was quite frankly an embarrassment to her. She realized the baby could end up just like her, or dead due to Ginny's neglected and realized Hermione was right. "I'll be here as well, we will convince her."

"Thank you," said Hermione quietly, realizing just how difficult it must be for her to choose.

"Dad working today mum?" asked Ron, since he wasn't here it was a logical assumption to make. His dad didn't work very often anymore, he didn't have to work every day. He had no children to pay to attend Hogwarts anymore. More often than not Molly and Arthur were at one of their children's houses. Except for Ginny of course, the place was a pigsty, which was saying something since she didn't have much in it.

"He's tinkering in his shed," said Molly shaking her head, she had never understood her husbands love for all things Muggle. More often than nothing things blew up in there. It was for that reason he wasn't allowed to take the grandkids in there. Much to Hugo's disappointment he seemed to share Arthur's fascination for Muggle things.

Just then a whirling hoot started up on the mantle place, Molly quickly silenced it not wanting it to wake the kids. Hermione and Ron stared at it completely uncomprehendingly. Then a few seconds later they stared at each other in shock. It finally registered what the charm had been placed on it for.

"Can you watch the kids for five minutes?" asked Hermione grabbing her cloak, from the door.

"Of course," said a befuddled Molly, what was going on?

"Thanks mum," said Ron as both Hermione and himself Apparated out of the house.

"Hurry," said Hermione, as she bolted towards the graveyard, you couldn't Apparate straight in unfortunately. The wizards believed graveyards were a sacred place, and all of them were warded heavily. Unfortunately not against destruction. Ron was in front of her by a few feet, he was much more used to running than her.

They caught sight of three people Apparating before they were gone from sight.

"None of them looked like Harry," said Ron, as they slowed down and stopped beside the Potter's graves.

"Glamour's Ron," sighed Hermione, twisting her wand, standing at the spot where they'd disappeared from. Ron copied her motion, he had taught her it. It traced Apparation as long as the magic was still there. They Apparated following the trail, they found themselves in Diagon Alley.

"We lost them," said Ron looking around, trying to catch sight of three people. Nothing, it was as if they had Apparated away again.

"They probably just went into a shop, lets just wait them out." said Hermione, she desperately wanted to see Harry. Apologize for being such an idiot, they had looked for him for years and no success. Unfortunately when Harry didn't want to be found - he couldn't be. Even they had to acknowledge that, having a child had forced them to settle down and just pray. They had never stopped looking for their friend though.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," said Harry wryly, hiding the sword, he didn't want the Goblins to find out about it again. Since Griphook had disappeared, the goblins had no idea about the sword. Harry was quite happy to keep it that way, although it was risky taking it into the Goblin's lair.

"It's very small," said Ash grimacing at how close people were to him, he did not like that thank you very much. After everything that had happened to the Atlantean nobody could blame him.

"Yes I know," said Harry as they began walking, only then did people notice them. It seemed not all wizards were impervious to Ash's absolutely deliciously gorgeous body. The boys much to Ash's fury were checking out his Simi. His eyes flashed in anger towards the wizards daring to even glance her way. Thankfully they didn't flash red, but a large opening suddenly appeared around them. So they could walk towards the bank without being bumped into. The wide berth was very welcomed especially by Ash, of course he didn't show that.

"I'd like to see my vault," said Harry authority bleeding from his every pore. He didn't have the respect for the goblins he'd previous felt. Not since finding out about the fact people had been able to access his vault.

"And do you have your key?" demanded the Goblin.

Harry arched an eyebrow and produced it, it looked as though he was getting the hang of the god powers. He passed it over, and the goblin raised a grizzly eyebrow before escorting him down.

Ash and Simi did not like the cart down to the vault, they looked positively sick. Harry on the other hand still enjoyed it, it was the closest he'd felt to being on a broom in years. Harry's hand pressed against the vault door, with it being the main Potter vault it was expected. Harry had only been in once, he stepped back at the loud bang and it opened. He knew that Ginny had been down here, the Goblins of course said that she had a letter from him letting her go down.

"Go on then Simi," said Harry stepping into the vault, Simi of course was way ahead of him. Already gaping at the amount of sparklies that piled up in front of her. There was more than she had, but that could be because she constantly ate them. She oo'ed and ahh'd at the beautiful rocks, wondering which ones to take.

Ash looked around himself, after getting off the cart, grateful for the reprieve. There was a pile of gold, silver and bronze on one side, then a lot of other things, goblets, chairs, and other household items, swords, daggers, chests, filled with clothes, gems jewellery and other things. Then Ash saw something, he walked over unable to believe it. What was a necklace with his mothers symbol doing here of all places?

"It belonged to my mum," said Harry standing next to Ash, his smile wistful.

"How?" asked Ash, it was after all an Atlantean pendant.

"She believed Atlantis was real, she wished to find it, that pendant had been passed down through the family. My great grandfather told her tales about it, he died when she seven. She never got to tell him about her being a witch. As a child she was determined to prove its existence. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how one looked at it, she got caught up in being a Witch. Proving herself to the wizarding world that it got put on hold. She spoke about going to find Atlantis after leaving Hogwarts. Then she ended up with my father, and had me and the war to deal with." said Harry, he'd read his mothers journal. Its what had led Harry on his quest to find it, in her memory. Ash seemed to realize this also.

"So you went to find it, to honour her?" stated Ash, he wasn't eleven thousand years old for nothing.

"To begin with yes, I never did get obsessed as everyone else did though. I knew it was real and that's all that mattered to me. Why do you think I didn't really get pissed off when you started spouting crap at the lecture." stated Harry, he was more angry at the fact someone had showed him up than not being able to prove Atlantis was real.

Ash said nothing, as he leant down and touched the pendant. He was able to see events tied to it. Not just anyone's pendant it had been worn by his mother. The Evans family had lived in Greece at one point, they moved first to America then to England. The great grandfather Harry spoke off took his young granddaughter after the death of his wife, son and daughter-in-law events tied to them trying to find Atlantis. He said nothing about it, knowing Harry would probably try and kill Artemis over this.

"Are you finished Simi?" asked Harry, leaving Ash's side.

"The Simi is done," said Simi her pockets were full of jewels, mostly diamonds and a few Emeralds. She had more than Harry had said she could have, but Harry didn't mind. He was never going to use them anyway, they'd probably been lying in his vault for generations. He supposed one of the Potter's had been jewellers or something. Why else would someone have so many gemstones?

"Aren't you going to take it?" asked Harry.

"It belongs to you," said Ash quietly.

"No Ash, it belongs to your mum." said Harry quietly, "I've proved my family's ambition wasn't for nothing. You should take it, maybe one day you can give it to her." if Apollo and Artemis gave him one excuse he'd make sure Ash went down and freed her. He'd just have to make sure there were people there who could absorb the powers so the world didn't end. Unfortunately Apollymi couldn't take in the powers, she was the goddess of destruction and an Atlantean. Artemis was a Greek goddess, totally incompatible. He and Ash were probably the only people who knew how to kill Artemis and Apollo.

Ash picked up the necklace, and put it in his ever present backpack. He never went anywhere without it. It was mostly used to hide his magic, put his hand in the bag and materialised whatever he wanted and then pulled his hand back out. Harry was used to it by now as well, although he did often wonder why he bothered. If someone did see them they'd probably just think they'd imagined it or had missed the object first time around. Harry seemed confident that he'd one day see his mother, but Ash unfortunately didn't believe him. He had gone so long without her, Harry didn't see the situation for what it was - hopeless.

Simi and Ash didn't enjoy the trip back any better than they'd liked going up. They were all to happy to be able to stand on solid ground once more. Harry just grinned at them in amusement, well, it was fun he couldn't deny it. Ash wasn't normal like this, he was always composed and sure of himself. At least his stance always conveyed such a thing. He knew how they acted was only a smidgen of the facet hidden from view.

"Just two shops then we can go," said Harry, he had books he wanted to look at and the sweet shop.

"Of course," said Ash, he was just enjoying this new world he'd never known existed. It had been more fun than he'd anticipated especially the magical castle. He'd love to know just how that place was built, especially the moving staircases, the ghosts and the portraits. It took a lot to amuse or surprise Ash, having been around and 'seen it all' for eleven thousand years. Being with Harry had probably been the longest he'd stayed in one place for a long time. He got bored really easily, its just the way life was.

"Hello I'd like to find books about parallel worlds and alternative dimensions." said Harry confidently, he wasn't the shy boy he had once been. Ash was over at the other side, browsing the books. He had no idea what Harry had planned, and hopefully wouldn't until he could prove or disapprove his theory. He vaguely recognized the witch, perhaps she'd gone to Hogwarts in the time he'd been there.

"Of course, follow me," said Daphne leading Harry to the darker corner of the shop, the musty smell of paper hit him. Evidently not many people had interests in these sort of books. "These are all the books we have available, if you'd like I can give you a catalogue you may find it in there. Is there something specific you are looking for?"

"I want to create a two way portals into a realm, dimension if you will." said Harry.

"Then these three books will tell you everything you need to know," said Daphne grabbing three books from their shelf. Dimensions for dummies, all you need to know about portals, creating your own world. "Will I ring them up for you?"

"Yes," said Harry, following her back towards the checkout, and handed her the correct amount of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts she requested. They were placed in brown paper and string, it seemed that much hadn't changed. You would think they'd learned to use plastic bags by this, but no heaven forbid they change.

"Have a good day sir," she said as she handed him his package.

"You also," said Harry nodding briefly, finally realizing who she was. No wonder he hadn't recognized her, she was a Slytherin, Daphne Greengrass if he remembered correctly. Harry located Ash still browsing the shop, Simi as always right next to him. Keeping her gems safe, by clutching her pockets, although it could have been to make sure they were still there.

"Anything you'd like to buy?" asked Harry he had enough galleons on him to buy each book in this shop. "You'd be able to do all this you know, you have my powers inside you." this was whispered so low to keep anyone from potentially overhearing. He sent his books to his and Ash's home, hopefully it would land where he had wanted it to - next to his trunk.

"I am not sure there's anything I could learn," said Ash dryly, with self confidence.

"You're probably right," said Harry sardonically. Ash was a god, he could do pretty much anything he wanted to. He turned Daimons to ash by banging his bloody staff. Which by the way Harry hadn't seen again, he'd seen Takeshi with one too so it must be a god thing. "There is one thing you are forgetting, gods, Daimons and Dark-Hunters cannot undo my magic. Therefore if you got into a fight, you'd have the upper and with my magic." Harry was the one feeling smug and confident now.

Ash dipped his head in acknowledgement to Harry's very sound argument. "Touché." he replied.

"One last shop," said Harry, as they exited the shop.

"The Simi is hungry Akri," said Simi licking her lips at the thought of something really tasty.

"Would you like some ice cream?" asked Harry, ironically enough they happened to be passing Fortescue's ice cream shop. Harry didn't need to see her face to know she was over the moon with that idea. She loved ice cream, she'd eaten lots of it at Sanctuary.

"Here, go get whatever you want to take away." said Harry handing her enough galleons for whatever she wanted. They stood at the side of the shop, not moving, just in case she got into any trouble. The wizards would find her odd, even Harry had but he'd quickly gotten used to her. Florean Fortescue had been one of the first victims once the war had started back up. The man had been really kind to him, giving him free Sundaes every half hour, helping him with his medieval wizardry homework. It was nice to see that the ice cream shop was still in the family, his son Florean Fortescue junior.

Simi emerged from the shop with three large tubs of ice cream.

Ash just stared at his demon with fondness, she was in all nearly all ways, bar blood, his daughter. He got to watch her grow up, was still watching her grow up. She wouldn't be fully grown for a long time yet, and Ash was grateful for that. He'd missed his biological daughters entire life, entering it just as she was ready for marriage and a child. He loved her, but he had missed out on so much. Her crawling, walking, talking, powers, teething yes he regretted not being there for that. Of course it was just another thing he could blame Artemis for.

Harry walked into the sweet shop, heading straight for one particular item. He picked it up, pulled it out of its packet and turned to Ash - smirking. "Taste this," his eyes softened a touch knowing Ash hated eating anything, "Trust me."

Ash wanted to say no, in fact he wanted to snap at Harry. He knew why he hated food, yet he'd do this to him? Here of all places surrounded by people. Yet he couldn't, if he couldn't trust Harry then who could he trust? So with great reluctance he took the lolly pop and placed it in his mouth. His eyes widened, his tongue lapping at the delicious tangy tasting blood.

"It's a blood pop, probably wont do as a substitute but should help the cravings." said Harry, "Not that its going to be a problem." the smirk on his face was full of promise and need that had Ash wishing they were alone in his flat. It was just too bad Harry was going to be training as well.

The "I hope you are going to pay for that!" by the shop assistant went completely ignored by both of them.

Ash smirked himself, sauntering forward, pulling Harry flush against him and kissing him wordlessly on the lips. Weeks ago Ash would never have dreamed of doing such a thing. Because of his past, he always believed he'd be kicked away, slapped or humiliated. It wasn't like that with Harry though, because he had proved time and time again he loved him. That he was not ashamed to be seen with him. Only once they drew apart, both of them trying to control themselves, did they realize everyone was gaping at them with shocked, horrified and jealous eyes.

"Well, what's the verdict do you want some?" asked Harry his voice breathless and filled with desperate desire.

"Yes," replied Ash, his voice was as always normal, calm, composed. Harry envied that about him, no matter the situation he always sounded that way. Perhaps Harry would too after being around for eleven thousand years.

Grinning in triumph he took three full boxes over, flipping the galleons at him. His eyes filled with boredom, he had heard the man after all. He waited for his change, it might only be a single Knut but he wasn't going to let the man have it after his comments. His head held high three of them left the shop, Harry froze when he came face to face with Hermione and Ron. His good mood vanished quicker than a boat on the Bermuda Triangle. They were staring right at him as if they could see through the glamour. Harry's heart was pounding erratically against his ribcage.

They had been the last people he wanted to bump into today. It was no coincidence them being there. The question was - how had they known he was here in the first place?

I wish I knew how to spice up the story, it feels awfully dull now that Artemis has been dealt with but considering it took what 27 chapters to get boring I suppose I can put it in the win column. So as you can see Harry still plans on letting ash and apollymi meet in the 'dimension world' guess the question remains will she ever be freed? would it even make sense to free her? Apollo loathes artemis and would never do anything for her let alone attack Harry... I could have Artemis twist it so she makes him believe harry did it to him (impotent) whether she does or not for her own revenge? thinking he would be able to kill harry? if this is the case what would you like to see happen? Apollo taken down to Apollymi's lair and dealt with there? or harry killing him and then going after Artemis (he did give her fair warning) and also ending her life or letting Apollymi do it thus letting the vow stand (she vowed to kill them her word is law so she has to) would it be satisfied with only one of them? or would she truly need to end them both before she could be freed by ash without ending the world? so many possibilities and only one outcome! I love writing stories for that very reason! :D R&R PLEASE GUYS!