I decided the original second chapter of what was originally Rara Avis was too wordy, and disrupted the flow of the story, and while this replacement chapter is still fairly wordy, I thought it worked better, giving a better insight into Harry's past in Shin Teito.

Incidentally, the story's name has been changed to Wings of the Forsaken, which I think is punchier than Rara Avis. The forsaken of the title is both Harry and Remus. At this point, Wings of the Forsaken will be the title it will be published under. Five chapters have been written so far, but only the first three chapters will be published initially. The first chapter will be, apart from some minor edits, virtually identical to the first chapter of Rara Avis.

Also, I'd like to make an announcement. I don't know how long until it gets put into The Cauldron, given what I need to do IRL, but my next Potterverse crossover will in all likelihood be a crossover with One Piece, with a Harry/Nami pairing. Watch this space...


WINGS OF THE FORSAKEN

CHAPTER 2:

AFTERMATH

It was some time afterwards. Harry was sitting out, alone in the garden. Well, not exactly alone. His Sekirei, and other Sekirei, were in the garden too, most of them watching Akitsu spar with Homura. But he sat somewhat apart, trying to gather his thoughts.

Dumbledore had just come along and told him that he had just been shanghaied into the Tri-Wizard Tournament. And his mentor had also told him that there was no way out, that any possible loopholes had already been closed by Bagman and Crouch, those responsible for reviving the Tournament in the first place. What was more, his half-brother had been entered, and Dumbledore couldn't rule out the possibility that one of Voldemort's agents had put the name of one if not both of the children of Lily Potter into the Goblet of Fire.

Dumbledore had been so apologetic. Indeed, his eyes were filled with self-reproach. Harry knew that the old man had felt a lot of guilt over what happened to Harry, and Harry had forgiven Dumbledore for that. The only foolish thing Dumbledore had done to Harry was to declare his brother Charles the Boy Who Lived. The rest was all on James Potter and Sirius Black, and Dumbledore having to juggle three positions.

Dumbledore was arranging a Portkey to take Harry to Hogwarts on the dates he would be needed. Thankfully, he wouldn't need to be at Hogwarts all the time, just on the days of the three Tasks he had to perform, along with a few key events like the Weighing of the Wands and the Yule Ball. But still, it meant possibly encountering James Potter and Sirius Black. Prongs and Padfoot. The ones who trumpeted themselves the Last Two True Marauders…but who had abandoned Harry and Remus Lupin, hounding the latter out of the country by exposing his lycanthropy.

Harry knew who it was who sat down next to him on the bench. Ever since being adopted by Miya Asama (even after marrying Remus, she kept her first husband's last name), Harry had a knack for sensing his mother's presence. It was hard not to. Sekirei were wells of power if you knew how to sense them, but Miya was an abyss of power. But that didn't make him afraid, even if it made others afraid. To him, the power radiating off the Sekirei Pillar was comforting.

"A yen for your thoughts, Harry?" Miya asked in English. Most of the inhabitants of the Maison Izumo were bilingual, with the Sekirei being taught the basics of Chinese and English as part of their education.

Harry scoffed quietly. "Just thinking about this stupid business. I went to all this trouble stopping one dangerous and deadly tournament run by an idiot, only to get roped into another."

Miya nodded solemnly. In the decade or so they spent as mother and child, the two could speak frankly on many issues. And while their relationship had been rocky at times (especially when Harry began, well, if not befriending Karasuba, then having a more strong relationship with the Black Sekirei than almost anyone in Shin Teito), their bond was strong, even stronger than that Harry had with his Sekirei. "It's not the Tri-Wizard Tournament that bothers you most, is it? It's a reunion with James Potter and Sirius Black."

Harry nodded mutely. He felt her arm wrap around him and draw him close. Even at his age, he had a strong relationship with Miya. Matsu, Tonks, and Kazehana sometimes teased him by calling him a Mummy's Boy. So did Uzume when she visited.

"Remember, Harry, you're not a child of my blood, but you are a child of my heart and soul, as precious to me as my fellow Sekirei. What's more, I am in your debt for doing what I could not, thanks to my promise to Takehito and my agreements with MBI. Minaka is now locked up, Takami has implemented a modified Sekirei Plan that won't be a game for the titillation of a madman, and my people are free to integrate with society. You saved Akitsu from a fate where she would never be able to find her Ashikabi. I couldn't be prouder of you. You have even managed to give Karasuba an outlet for her impulses. And while I cannot condone such dark pranks, it is better that than she kill on her whims."

"You've got to admit, though, sending death threats to that idiot who adjusted Akitsu is funny," Harry said.

"Perhaps," Miya said. "But that's not the point. James Potter and Sirius Black are not the ones whom you should look up to for acknowledgement and affirmation. You have true family and friends here. Don't worry about what they think."

"I'm not. I'm more worried about what me or my Flock will do to them," Harry said. "I don't want to set a bad example for little Ku. She doesn't know or understand the whole story. How can she? She's seven. I'm glad she's not in Minato's Flock. Between Tsukiumi's mercurial personality, Musubi's airheaded nature, and Kazehana's alcoholism, she hasn't got that many good influences."

"And she does with your Flock?"

"Matsu has at least learned to turn down her perversion in front of Ku, and Akitsu listens to me. Haihane tries not to do scary while she's off the clock. And we keep our 'lewd activities' out of view." Harry sighed, looking at the others. "Anyway, I detest James Potter and Sirius Black. I hate them. For what they did to Lily, to Dad, to me. I can't find it in my heart to forgive them."

"I'm not asking you to, Harry, any more than you could ask me to forgive Karasuba. But we will persevere in spite of them. And don't let hatred become the dominant force in your heart like it did in Karasuba."

Harry nodded, smiling. After what James Potter and the Dursleys did to him, he was surprised he had any capacity for affection or even love anymore. And yet, this extraordinary woman had found him, healed him, and raised him. While Lily had died when he was young, he still had distant memories of her, and remembered the love she had given him. He could never deny that Lily was his mother both by blood and deed, especially as she gave her life to save him and his brother. But Miya had picked up where Lily left off after a brief but intense interval of abuse.

They were both broken. Miya had been broken by Takehito's death, Karasuba's hand in that, and Minaka's insane schemes that she had lost all power over thanks to her vows. Harry had been broken physically and mentally by James Potter, Sirius Black, and the Dursleys, all for his heritage and being a symbol for them. For James Potter, Harry was a werewolf's spawn, a symbol of cuckoldry. For Sirius Black, Harry was the cause of James Potter's pain. That James Potter used Amortentia to ensnare Lily was beside the point. The Dursleys saw Harry as a freak, as abnormal, with Petunia also seeing him as being like the sister whose gifts she coveted, but could never have.

But broken people sometimes could find solace in others who were broken. Miya seized on the opportunity to adopt an abandoned child. And Harry, desperate for some form of maternal affection, latched onto her. It wasn't an auspicious beginning, but it would lead to their lives changing for the better.


It was a little later. Harry was taking Kusano to a nearby playground. He was accompanied by his other Sekirei, save for Matsu, who was more of a shut-in at times, even once the heat from MBI had died down from her stealing a Jinki. His Flock seemed on-edge. Haihane in particular asked to be taken to Wagtail Industries later in the afternoon, to spar with Benitsubasa to work off her anger, despite her taking a week off after yesterday's little saga.

They were being accompanied by two other Sekirei, as well as the Ashikabi of one of those Sekirei. Kazehana had managed to shake off the worst of her hangover, though she decided she wanted little to do with Tsukiumi's attitude for once. Plus, accompanying Harry meant avoiding the worst of Miya's wrath for drinking so much. And Uzume had become like a big sister to Harry during his stay, and was bringing her Ashikabi, a girl called Chiho, for a walk.

Kazehana was a tall, elegant dark-haired woman in a Chinese-style dress whose hemline stopped dangerously short of her modesty, and with parts cut out showing off her cleavage and navel. She had a serene, easy-going nature to her. Uzume, by comparison, was dressed somewhat more modestly, though her shirt and jeans did little to hide her figure, and when she was in battle, her outfit was considerably more revealing. Uzume was also shorter and more mundane-looking than Kazehana, though that wasn't saying much. It was like choosing between an exotic beauty in Kazehana, and a beautiful girl-next-door in Uzume.

They were also both powerful Sekirei. Kazehana was a Single Number, namely 03, capable of wielding the wind to lethal effect. Uzume was the Veil Sekirei, Number 10, capable of manipulating fabric imbued with her power for both defence and offence, to more effect than you would think with cloth. She was certainly ridiculously lethal if she wanted to be.

Uzume's Ashikabi was walking gingerly alongside her Sekirei. Chiho was a blonde-haired girl, rather young, who had lost her parents at an early age, and whose ability to walk was being taken from her by a viral disease. Unfortunately, Chiho was also being used as leverage against Uzume by an influential Ashikabi called Higa, one of the various reasons Harry targeted Higa. Chiho's condition had been cured by Wagtail Industries, and Uzume was truly grateful, even if she and Chiho now lived away from Maison Izumo.

If Harry had to define his relationship with these two Sekirei, Uzume was a big sister or cousin, while Kazehana was an aunt, albeit one with a few less than salubrious habits. But he loved them all the same as family. And he could understand why Uzume did what she did, as much as it hurt to be betrayed once more. Peter Pettigrew's betrayal had been out of pure self-interest, while Uzume was worried for her Ashikabi, and hated herself for what Higa made her do.

As Kusano scurried to the playground once they arrived, Chiho and Uzume in tow (the Veil Sekirei and her Ashikabi doing the supervising), Kazehana looked at Harry. "Minato told me what happened."

"Yeah. I'm not happy about it."

Kazehana chuckled. "I didn't think you'd be, Harry. If it were up to me, I'd take you and your Flock, minus Ku, out on a bender to end all benders. But your Mum will probably spay me and carve out what is left of my liver if I did that. She wasn't happy when I took you guys out drinking for your 18th."

"You've got plenty of liver left," Haihane snorted. "You're a Sekirei AND a Single Number."

"You wouldn't know it to hear Miya griping about it," Kazehana retorted.

"And don't forget what happened when you dragged poor Homura along for the ride," Harry pointed out. "He was only just getting used to being able to switch genders, he didn't need someone feeling him up when he was a woman. I mean, aside from Tonks. Homura doesn't mind it from her, even when Homura's a man or a woman."

"Homura's a big boy, he can deal with it. Or she, depending. At least Tonks is understanding. Anyway, you've got butterflies about going to this Tournament?"

"Ah…Harry is more worried about the ones who discarded him," Akitsu said. "I share in his…displeasure."

Kazehana nodded. It figured that Akitsu would, given how she was effectively discarded by MBI after their experiments effectively destroyed her ability to be Winged. Given epithets like 'the Scrapped Number' and 'the Broken Sekirei'. Harry had been drawn to her, and had brought her home. She soon became a resident of Maison Izumo. They both knew what it was to be discarded like trash for something beyond their control.

"I won't lie and say I'm not anxious about the Tournament itself," Harry said. "Dumbledore said I'm only supposed to do it with my wand, and show my bravery in the face of the unknown. He said he was quoting Bagman. And I can't bring any of my Flock with me. Oh, and apparently Fleur Delacour's been chosen as the Champion of Beauxbatons."

"Hercule Delacour's daughter?" Kazehana asked. About a few months ago, sometime after Minaka was toppled, Fleur had come over with her father, an expert on magical bonds and a specialist in Veela bonds. That was partly because he was married to a half-Veela. The part-Veela girl, while almost as haughty as Tsukiumi, had warmed to Harry when they met with Miya and the other Sekirei staying here during the Delacours' stay in Shin Teito.

"Yeah, and Viktor Krum, star Seeker of Bulgaria, is Durmstrang's. I don't know the official Hogwarts Champion, Cedric Diggory, but apparently his father is one of the more prominent officials in the Ministry. Hopefully, they won't see me as too much of an interloper. I've asked Dumbledore that I be said to participate in the name of Wagtail Industries."

"Why not Mahoutokoro?" Haihane asked.

"While they're glad to have me, I think they'd prefer a Japanese-born to fight in their name in the Tri-Wizard Tournament," Harry pointed out. "Takami would appreciate the publicity, though, especially in Magical Britain."

"Plus, you want to stick it sideways to James Potter and Sirius Black, right?" Kazehane asked with a wry smirk.

"That too. Though Dumbledore warned me this might be an attempt by Voldemort, through one of his agents, to get to me. And besides, if I lose my magic, I'll probably die, and I'll probably take my Flock with me, and I don't want any of that to happen."

"Of course not," Kazehana said. "Incidentally, what are you going to do when you find out who did this?"

"Ah…Haihane suggested that she wanted to try ice-sculpture," Akitsu said. "I would provide the ice around the responsible party, she would do the carving."

"Creative. Karasuba would love it. And I'm sure your parents would sell snacks," Kazehana remarked.

"We've got a few days until we have to go to Hogwarts for the Weighing of the Wands," Harry said. "I'm going to make the most of them." With that, he trotted over to where Kusano was being pushed on a swing by Uzume.

"Catch me, big brother!" Kusano yelped, before Uzume gave a big push, and Kusano leapt from the swing, with Harry catching her easily. They laughed. "Ku flew!"

"You sure did, Ku." He hugged Kusano to him. James Potter and Sirius Black weren't family, neither by blood or deed. The Dursleys weren't family at all, blood relation aside. No, this group at Maison Izumo was. He wasn't a Potter, and he had no intention of becoming one. He knew he wouldn't stand alone.

His family, his true family, and his friends, they would stand with him to the end. And that was all that mattered…

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

Those who followed the original version of this story, Rara Avis, will have noticed a significant difference. I decided that chapter was too heavy with exposition and not enough character. I decided to change it, both to show Harry and Miya's relationship, as well as to show Kazehana and Uzume.

On Homura and his/her gender: Harry will generally use male pronouns for Homura, partly because Homura's preferred form is a male one. However, Homura can, thanks to Tonks Winging him, switch genders at will (and, occasionally, by accident), and Tonks had helped him accept that. Harry has lived with Homura for much of his life anyway, and generally thinks of Homura as a 'he', only switching to 'she' when Homura is a woman. While Harry has been raised bilingual, and Japanese has more gender-neutral pronouns, he still has an English mindset. That being said, Harry accepted Homura's gender-fluidity itself long ago, partly because Homura was a big brother figure to him.

Next chapter (and this will be the last pre-Hogwarts chapter), Takami and Karasuba.

No numbered annotations for this chapter.