The next day, in Holyhead, Harry was sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. He was still absorbing everything that had happened the day before, both physically and mentally. The bruises on his arms and legs had him stiff, and the intermittent pain had kept Harry up for most of the night before. Harry had managed to distract himself from it somewhat by repeating that one word that Tadgh had let slip yesterday. Sister. Sister sister sister. He, Harry, had a sister.

That revelation hadn't been the only thing. Just seconds afterwards, Harry had struck back against Tadgh, though without really meaning to. He'd snapped his fingers, usually used to create imaginary memories of his Mum, and the mysterious force within him had responded. Tadgh had been sent flying backwards, almost off his feet. He hadn't dared approach Harry again, instead ordering him to stay put in his room. Harry had done so, the incident having instilled a new fear in him rather than the idea that he could stand up to his Father.

Because now Tadgh knew that his poor, abused son had something within him, something beyond human understanding. Harry had absolutely no idea what would happen, and his fear of the unknown meant that his panic was growing steadily. He hadn't heard much from his father downstairs this morning, Harry wondering if he'd actually committed to leaving him up here to starve, like Tadgh had threatened to do several times in the past. Or maybe he'd try to make a quick buck by selling him off to some scientists?

And suddenly Harry was shot back into the present by his Father's heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. He forced himself to turn towards the door, as he felt heart become stuck in his throat when the footsteps paused momentarily, before Tadgh..knocked. Knocked. It came again a couple of times over, as Harry sat frozen in shock, eyes wide in confusion at what he'd just heard. He thought he must be dreaming but when he shook his head and listened closely, the knocking could still be heard. Finally, Harry forced himself to respond.

'Wh-What is i-it..,' he called out, voice quavering at nearly every syllable. Tadgh opened the door, and the look on his face caused Harry's nerves to go into overdrive. His Father wore no look of anger, in fact, there was no malice on his face or in his eyes at all. Instead, he was genuinely smiling. Genuinely smiling. A broad grin that revealed the grizzly state of drink after the years of alcoholism. Harry blinked once or twice, not quite believing what he was seeing. He had only ever seen a wicked grin from his Father, usually before he was subjected to a pummeling.

'Come on!,' Tadgh boomed heartily, 'We have to get some breakfast into ya!,' he laughed, clapping his hands and jerking his head towards the stairs. Harry's hunger caused him to scramble out of the room, despite every fibre of his being telling him to stay where he was. Downstairs, he found nothing waiting for him, but only paused for a moment before he darted over to the table as his Father came downstairs.

'Now, what would you like?,' Tadgh asked, as he popped two bits of bread into the toaster, before he looked over at his son. Because Harry had laughed. He rarely ever laughed because there was understandably nothing in his life to laugh at, but now a weak, somewhat raspy chuckle escaped his lungs. He had to be dreaming, absolutely had to be dreaming. There was no way that his Father had just magically decided to start caring about him, as Tadgh just buttered the toast and put the plate in front of him. He sat down, fingers interlocked and still smiling. If Harry hadn't known he was dreaming, he'd be seriously worried.

'Thought of something funny?,' he grinned, 'Go on, tell the joke to your old man!'

'No..No t-there isn't a-a joke..!,' Harry breathed, struggling to control his laughter. A part of him hated how cruel his mind was being now, showing him a world where he didn't have to suffer. He had probably been knocked out during the beating yesterday.

'Ah now, I'm not going to be annoyed with ya, spill the beans!,' Tadgh pressed, as his brown eyes began to bore into Harry's.

'This is a dream! Y-You..Y-You hurt me..all..all of t-the time! Why s-start being n-nice all of a-a sudden?,' Harry revealed, taking a bite of bread. Tadgh snorted, leaning back in his chair and looking out the window briefly, before his gaze returned to Harry who paused mid-bite. Tadgh wore a look of complete calm. A chilling calm, the sort of calm that told you that there was far more at play. Harry shivered, and Tadgh leaned forward.

'Aye. I did hurt you, Harry. The old you, that little stain who couldn't tap into his heritage. That cowardly, useless little child. That's the one I had to beat out of you, the real you. To be honest, I thought you were buried, trapped underneath your Mother's weakness!'

'...You-You hurt m-me cause..c-cause I couldn't d-do stuff when I-I snapped my fingers..?,' Harry murmured, not to his Father or really anything in particular. The revelation hollowed out his stomach in moments, and Harry felt himself sway slightly in anger. Tadgh nodded before he raised his hand and Harry jumped, quickly zoning back into reality. Rather than hit him, Tadgh snapped his fingers and Harry's plate flew over towards him. The boy went wide-eyed, and the anger rushed to his head.

'You-You can d-do it t-too!?'

'Yes, I can, didn't think the old you was worth telling, plus the booze didn't help either, but I managed to get myself sober this morning!,' Tadgh laughed heartily, nodding towards the old hose outside and not seeming to care in the slightest about the anger slowly creeping onto Harry's face.

'But-But I've always been..been a-able to d-do it!,' Harry exclaimed, shaking a little and Tadgh looked back at him, scratching his chin in surprise.

'Really? Well, suppose it explains why you snapped your fingers at me, but ya should've told me then, ya fool! You could've saved yourself all the hurt and we could be back at home too-!'

'MY SISTER!,' Harry shouted, gripping the table, ' 'YOU-YOU TOLD ME I H-HAD A SISTER!,' as he quickly became hoarse. His Father cursed under his breath, before he leaned forward and grabbed Harry by the chin, pulling him in as the boy struggled in vain.

'A sister, you say?' Tadgh asked, a mocking smile on his face and a glint in his eye, 'Harry..you don't have a sister..where have you gotten that idea from?,' he said slowly, like he was reading a children's story. Harry inhaled sharply, and realised his Father had a sort of hold on his mind again. This time, he felt yesterday's memory of his Father's drunken revelation being pulled away. But..he already knew that, right-?

Harry suddenly realised that his memory was fading, like a piece of paper dissolving in water. First, the part where Tadgh had stormed in and thrown him off his bed faded. Then it slowly started to be followed by the merciless beating Harry had received because he'd dared to forget Father's day and nibbled on an apple in the fridge as well.

His Father was trying to make him forget he had a sister.

Harry formed his hands into fists and slammed them on the table in opposition, splattering milk all over. It did little to break Tadgh's focus, who was closing in on that precious revelation by the second. Harry could seemingly do nothing, when something within him reacted. He felt his thumbnails slide underneath his index finger, raise his hands up slowly before he snapped both his fingers at the same time. The cereal bowl was thrown back and shattered in mid air, showering both father and son in shards of porcelain. Harry managed to turn away in time, shielding his face from the blast, while his Father was thrown backwards in his chair, sent sliding across the room as the chair legs scraped against the floor.

Despite the horrible noise and the shock of the blast, Harry felt himself smile. He'd won, somehow. He'd been able to fend off his Father's attack and could still remember that he had a sister out there somewhere, along with the beating the day before. He was quickly brought back to reality by his Father however, but again in a way Harry would never have expected; he was laughing. It was a dark, low laugh but it seemed he was genuinely happy, clapping his hands together as he stood up.

'Well done! By the Light, to think there's still that much left!,' he laughed as Harry fully absorbed what he'd said a minute ago. All the abuse..the days gone without food..the neglect that had him going around in clothes that were too small for him..all because his Father had thought he couldn't do magic? And because of that it made him unworthy of love and affection?

Harry felt the anger take hold of him, and immediately raised his hand to lash out, but his Father just quicker. Far quicker. In a split-second, he snapped his fingers and Harry gasped, clutching the right side of his chest. He'd heard a loud crk and he had to loosen his hold as a dull, bruising pain spread around his ribcage. He looked up at his Father, whose expression now finally changed to that angry, malicious one that Harry had always been familiar with.

'I'm proud of you, but attack your Father like that again and there'll be bad consequences,' Tadgh explained darkly, 'We''l deal with that precious memory of yours later, it's only going to cause us trouble, clearly! But right now we have places to be! Go up and pack your things,' he ordered, though he had to advance when Harry didn't move initially.

As he scrambled up the stairs, every short breath of Harry's hurt his chest as he stumbled into his room. His mind was a swirl of constant emotions, but he couldn't sit down to try and comprehend it as his Father came up after him. Forcing himself to go along with the orders, Harry took his tattered old school bag from his wardrobe and changed into his regular clothes. As he packed his toys in between his pyjamas though, he struggled to understand just what this was all about.

Only one person had those answers, and Harry couldn't remember he had actually asked his Father a question. Questions were usually seen as a bother, and would be met with a sharp rebuttal, a slap or both if Tadgh was in a particularly bad mood. However, his Father seemed to have remained in his good mood, despite what Harry's injured rib said otherwise. So, with his heart in his chest, the boy moved towards his door and rested against the doorframe.

'Wh-Where are we-we going?,' Harry asked the wall in front of him. Tadgh poked his head around the corner, before he studied the wall opposite as well, his expression almost dream like before he looked back at his son.

'We're going home, our real home, not this depressing hovel of a place..and why aren't you packing!?' He demanded, the contempt slipping back into his voice. Harry had tried to retreat, but his chest objected for the time being. Taking a breath to steady himself, he didn't dare to look up at his Father but managed a brave response as he soaked up the revelation.

'I'm..I'm done..,' he breathed and Tadgh looked from him to his bedroom before he thumbed over his shoulder, ordering him wordlessly downstairs. Harry double checked everything, making sure the model rocket was packed safely before he shrugged the bag over his shoulder. His Father hadn't returned the toy he'd stolen from him yet and Harry doubted he'd ever see it again, as he made his way down into the hall. Here, he pulled on his little green rain jacket and sat down against the wall to wait…

'...Oi..Oi, wake up!,' Tadgh ordered sharply, pinching Harry's arm and the boy shot awake, looking all around. He again wondered briefly if it had all been a dream, but on feeling the dull pain in his side and seeing his Father with two bags swung over his back he quickly sobered up to reality. Ushered out the front door, Harry wondered briefly how long he'd been out for, and further about this "real home" that he'd been told about. The fact that he was being forced to abandon the only home he knew and indeed his entire way of life was still sinking in. As he tried to soak it all up again; Tadgh dropped the house keys in the sewer after locking the door.

Harry found himself in a sort of limbo as Tadgh started the old banger of a car he owned, the very same car he'd used to evade the Safety Patrol in, and began to drive them out of Holyhead. He felt nothing towards the house, even if his room had been a sort of safe space. Still, he wasn't looking forward to wherever they were headed either, as the car pulled out of Holyhead. The whole time, Harry kept the thought of his Mum and Sister in his mind, both out of fear his Father might try to make him forget again and because he realised he was only being pulled further away from them.

'Anywho, you're probably wondering just what you are, who you are,' Tadgh said, looking at Harry briefly in the window. Harry didn't respond or look back, and just continued staring out the window drearily. Tadgh didn't seem to care and continued.

'You and I are what they call faeries, the little folk. But none of that is true, Harry, because you and I are Tuatha De Dannan..the most powerful race in the world! We, and only we, have access to the true power of magic, something that only those born with can truly understand! Don't you see?,' Tadgh asked, turning around as they stopped in traffic, 'You're lucky, blessed actually. You are going to be a powerful warrior, my legacy!'

Harry didn't respond, and Tadgh grumbled something as he turned around to drive on. The boy's emotions had flatlined, despondent at being torn away from any chance of seeing his Mum and Sister as well as the World as he knew it. As always, the fear of the unknown also kept him silent, as their journey continued. They stopped once for petrol, and Tadgh threw a couple packets of crisps at him while he enjoyed a large BLT. He seemed to be in a World of his own; so much so that Harry managed to sneakily eat a bit of bacon that had fallen down behind him.

Saving a pack of crisps for later, Harry again stared silently as the countryside flew past them. They'd been driving for over an hour now and had gone through one or two towns. The main road had been left behind a while ago, replaced by narrow country lanes as Harry caught one or two signs indicating they were in "Snowdonia" or "Beautiful Snowdonia".

And it really was beautiful. Harry became lost in its Summer scenery for a moment, its lush green fields and emerald treetops going on for seemingly forever. It was close to where he imagined staring up at the stars with his Mum, and he felt himself become a little teary at the idea that it would probably never happen. All he had, and would have, of his real family were pictures created through painful imagination rather than genuine memories, if even. His Father might just come after the idea of her as well-

The car stopped suddenly and Harry was jostled in his seat, as his Father sat staring ahead at something in front of them, tapping his finger on the wheel as he did. Looking out the front window, Harry saw they'd stopped at a fork in the road. The road went off to the right, while the route ahead was gated off with a sign in Welsh reading "Caerwych". Harry didn't know much Welsh, but reasoned it meant "Private," something his Father would hardly respect as he turned off the car and got out, muttering under his breath as he took his bags from the passenger seat.

'Come on, we'll walk the rest of the way,' he explained gruffly as he slammed the door shut after Harry. The boy hesitated at the gate, but suddenly felt his Father grab the back of his top and hoist him over to the other side. He dropped him and Harry stumbled; as Tadgh climbed over the gate and sent him on ahead with a stiff wave of the hand.

'People like you and me have a right to walk wherever we wish..it's something these non-folk would never understand!' His Father explained, sounding irritated as Harry made his way along the road, which stretched ahead into the horizon. He looked back at his Father momentarily, before he quickened his pace at his glare.

Tadgh closed the distance though, placing a firm hand on Harry's shoulder as he pointed out ahead of them. Harry followed, but could see nothing of note; just endless rolling hills and the endless road before them.

'Do you hear it? Do you hear the land calling out to you?' Tadgh asked, eyes boring into the top of Harry's skull as he did. Harry strained his ears; and to his astonishment he could hear something. On the light Summer breeze, there was the faintest hint of music, like a flute and the sound only became more prominent as Father and Son continued on in silence.

But the walk soon became an arduous one for Harry, especially as his injured rib made itself felt time and again. He began to slow, breaths becoming quick and short as he swung his bag around and rooted around for the crisps. Just as he was about to open them though, Tadgh reached forward and grabbed the bag from his hand. Harry looked back, despondent at having his food taken from him when Tadgh offered an alternative; grass.

'Gr-Grass..!?' Harry mumbled in disbelief, looking up at his Father, who's nostrils flared as if his son had just turned down an expensive three course meal.

'The land will provide for you! It will nurture you! This is how we Tuatha De Dannan sustain ourselves, not living off rubbish like this!,' his Father exclaimed angrily, throwing the crisps behind him.

But Harry had had enough. He'd been forced from home, driven to some unknown fate in the middle of nowhere and now was being forced to eat grass, all while he dealt with his cracked rib. Again, the anger washed over him, and while he didn't lash out with magic, Harry's voice refused to be contained, once again ignoring his instincts.

'This..T-This isn't what I-I want! I want to go h-home! I-I don't want to be a w-warrior! W-Why can't we just..just go back to..to M-Mu-!?'

Tadgh grabbed Harry by collar before he could finish, and hoisted him into the air, teeth gritted in a furious rage. The boy momentarily kicked out before he stopped, as Tadh held up his fingers dramatically, before he snapped them and Harry heard another rib crk inside him. His Father pulled him in close, seething in rage and the stench of alcohol still hanging on his breath.

'You..,' he hissed, almost unable to speak due to his anger, '..are an ungrateful little bastard! Your Mother..dear Johanna..she refused to see your potential, refused to see my perspective, so I took you for myself! All the way down here, to fecking Wales! But the Tuatha wouldn't take you, because they said you had no magic, none! Because even then you had decided to turn your back on me!

'I could have left you in the woods to die, but I didn't! Because I care about you, because I see your potential! You will be my legacy..the most powerful warrior in recent times!,' Tadgh repeated, briefly becoming lost in his delusions before coming back to reality. He pulled Harry closer, nose inches from his and holding a furious finger up to him as he did.

'And because I care about you..I'm going to carry you, like I've carried you for these past twelve miserable years!,' he spat angrily, before opening his palm to reveal the grass again, 'But only if you eat what the land offers you first!'

Harry was awakened when Tadgh shook him off his back and he landed haphazardly on the ground, groaning a little as his ribs sang in pain. He'd passed out after he'd been hoisted up back on the road, reawakening at one point to find they had moved off it and that his Father was trekking through some boggy moorland. Now, looking around, he saw that they were an even more isolated area than before.

Hills rolled on around them, and Harry could see lakes shining in the distance like great, massive pearls. They were high up, as a Summer breeze hit him in the face with such force that he was almost pushed backwards onto the ground. And again, he heard the sound of the flutes, but this time it was joined by the sound of a drum, its beat full of life and its rhythm hypnotising.

But Harry wasn't in the mood for music, stomach growling despite the hearty helping of grass Tadgh had made him eat on their way up. Speaking of, his Father was crouched in the middle of a large, crude circle of stones, having deposited his bags beside him. Dotted around its edges were short, spiky pillars as if it were a crown, while Harry thought of a comet entering the atmosphere; like the fire of its descent was frozen on impact. Whatever this place was, it was clearly thoroughly ancient as the breeze dropped slightly and Harry was able to pick up on what his Father was saying as knocked four times on one rugged surface.

'Geataí na Cinniúint...tigh agus breithnigh mé fiú'

It wasn't English, and Harry cocked his head slightly in confusion as Tadgh repeated this phrase over and over, knocking on the stone each time. Harry could hear him becoming impatient as he did so, though. Whatever was about to happen, it clearly wasn't supposed to take this long but just as Harry began to wonder how long they'd be stuck out here, the ground before his Father buckled slightly. It was like boiling water, and Tadgh took a step back as a wide hole appeared, taking with it some of the aged stones. Harry moved back as well, unnerved and then completely astonished, when a man emerged from the hole.

He was shorter than his father and much skinnier too, as a brown hand swept away some of the debris that had fallen on his green cloak, which had a gold hem along the bottom. He pulled back his hood to reveal his appearance; short, faded hair that went down in braids behind his head, along with a brilliant pair of hazelnut eyes. Harry, looking out from behind a standing stone, noticed his Father's face seemed to crinkle a little in confusion before he coughed politely.

'An tusa an geataí?,' he asked in that mysterious language, but the man seemed to understand and nodded.

'Yes, I am a gatekeeper..but no one has used this gate in a while!,' the man laughed heartily and in plain english. Harry felt himself smile slightly at Tadgh's confusion, before his Father recalibrated and pushed on with the conversation, beckoning Harry over to which the boy answered reluctantly.

'Well..my son and I are looking to return home, we've been stuck up here for a while. I tried to get through before, but I was told that he didn't know enough magic then. That's changed now, hasn't it, Harry?,' His Father asked, sounding chipper and the boy nodded quickly as Tadgh tightened his grip on his shoulder. The Gatekeeper studied Harry for a moment, his calm eyes seeming to look into his very soul before he looked back up at Tadgh.

'I'm going to need some proof of magic first, it will be hard for him to settle down there otherwise,' he explained and Tadgh crouched down next to his son, though Harry knew well by now this kindly attitude of his was a front and stared back coldly.

'Why don't you show our kinsman here your skills?,' his Father suggested, his expression remaining warm but his eyes being filled wide and very much conveying a 'Don't try anything' attitude. Harry stepped away and sat down cross-legged before them. As he tried to settle his mind, Harry heard the music drifting around him as another breeze swept by. In fact, it seemed to be coming from the hole that the Gatekeeper had emerged from; Harry wondered briefly if he could make a dash for it-

'Harry, come on now, can't keep our friend waiting!,' Tadgh interjected and Harry took a breath before he closed his eyes. He began to snap his fingers, the image of his Mum appeared and Harry imagined that they were out camping. Sat on her lap, he began to point up at the stars above them, safe in her embrace. Then, another figure appeared, who was his height and shared his blue hair as well; his sister. The girl sat down next to them, looking up to the sky at Harry's point in silence. She was smiling and looked genuinely interested, as Harry hoped she'd be if they ever met-

Suddenly, the image began to fade. The woods, his family, the night sky, all of it disappeared before Harry could react. He realised he was in his room back in Holyhead, and that he couldn't hear the snaps of his fingers anymore either. He shivered and pulled his legs up his chest; the room seemed colder, as devoid of joy as the rest of the house, when his Father appeared in the doorway. Harry blinked, getting a sense of deja-vu as Tadgh slammed his hand flat against the door and heaved himself inside. He eyed his son wickedly, as he steadied himself on the bed frame.

'Hello, runt,' Tadgh sneered, the alcohol hanging off his breath, 'Any idea..Any idea what day it is..?'

His voice sounded distant and echoey, and his movements were slower too as Harry found himself being lifted up off the bed and thrown over the side onto the floor. He braced, but felt no pain, instead the floor rippled like a puddle as his Father came around and pulled him up by the hair. Again, no pain, and Harry remained confused until he saw a figure over his Father's shoulder. At first he hoped it was his Mum, here to save him, but then there was a click and Tadgh froze in place. Hair still trapped in his Father's hand, Harry could see that it was the Gatekeeper.

Initially, as the man looked at him sorrowfully, Harry wondered how he'd managed to pierce his mind but quickly moved himself on. It was clear the man was trying to help him, and though he was uncomfortable with someone rifling through his memories, Harry nodded for him to continue. Another snap and they were brought to when Tadgh had begun to beat Harry over the apple. Then the Gatekeeper fast-forwarded to Harry's first open use of his powers, before the scene shifted into the kitchen just this morning.

Harry was back in his seat, and flinched as he forced his Father back and the chair went howling across the floor. The Gatekeeper had watched each scene with an ever growing despondency on his face, but when Tadgh lashed out and cracked one of Harry's ribs, his anger was obvious. With a final, furious snap he disappeared and Harry reawakened, gasping for air. It was like he'd forgotten how to breathe, as the Gatekeeper rounded on his Father.

'Yes, it looks like the boy is gifted..,' he began, before with a wave of his hand he pulled three instances of Tadgh's abuse from Harry's mind. Surrounding his Father like a triangle, Harry shuddered at just how manic each of them looked, lost in an irrational and violent anger. The actual Tadgh looked livid, snapping away each of them in quick succession.

'He was weak! Yes, it was extreme but I had to get it out somehow, didn't I?,' he snarled, as they began to pace around each other. Harry darted to his left and froze, trembling, behind the Gatekeeper as he paused in front of him. Tadgh's fists curled in rage and Harry thought he could make out a vein throbbing on the side of his head. Then, in a swift motion, Tadgh darted left and tried to snap one of Harry's ribs for his insubordination. The boy fell back in fright, only for the Gatekeeper to cancel out the attack with a snap of his own. His look was restrained, though the disgust was evident.

'The Tuatha De Dannan are not blind, and I can see plainly what stands before me; a monster who only cares about himself!,' he replied, anger slipping in, 'I'm bound by my pledges to protect those who come to me!'

'I came to you!,' Tadgh snapped back, 'He's..He's nothing without me!'

'We'll see,' the Gatekeeper replied, before with a quick snap he caused Tadgh to stumble back, gripping his chest and breathing sharply. Harry realised that the Gatekeeper had probably cracked his rib and tittered slightly. He didn't enjoy seeing others in pain, but it was nice seeing his Father get a taste of his own medicine for once. Tadgh noticed this and the vein on his head throbbed faster as he pointed a finger at Harry, not to maim but instead in white hot anger and denial.

'YOU-YOU PIECE OF SCUM! I'M YOUR FAMILY! YOU WOULD BETRAY YOUR OWN BLOOD!?,' Tadgh roared, apoplectic as he aimed another snap at Harry. The Gatekeeper intercepted it again, but it seemed this one was more powerful and Harry fell to his knees, winded. His protectors look stiffened, and quickly unbalanced Tadgh with a few more snaps.

'The only betraying their blood here is you. The Tuatha De Danann are this boy's family now, and I will make sure you do not haunt him again!,' he exclaimed but Harry looked up at him in confusion. He'd hoped that this encounter would have led to him being reunited with his Mum and Sister, but before he could try and speak up, the Gatekeeper snapped his fingers. Harry was pulled down and dragged along the ground towards the gaping hole in the ground. Desperately, the boy clawed at the dirt, calling out in a panic as he did.

'Wait! Wait! I don't want to! I-I just want my Mummmm!'

The world above disappeared and the last thing Harry saw, perhaps what he'd ever see, was his Father's livid expression as he squared up to the Gatekeeper. Plummeting into the abyss, Harry tried to cling on the walls but found none, arms and legs flailing as he fell further and further. The opening above shrank until it became indiscernible amongst the black, as Harry's screams echoed all around him. He tried snapping his fingers, but the brief sparks of orange light fizzled out almost immediately. His bag became loose and flew off his back into the unknown. Tears flowing upwards, Harry's hopeless descent away from all he'd known and dreamed of continued endlessly-

WHAM

The ground shook at his impact despite his frail nature. Every bone in his body cried out and the air was completely knocked out of him. His vision was blurred and refused to centre. For a moment, black pulled at his periphery as the pain caused him to curl up and start to bawl, but no sound came out. Instead, Harry vomited up the grass and what felt like so much more as he balled up on all fours, retching violently.

He was dying; he would die down here in agony, never understanding who he was and never having met his Mum or sister. But somewhere, amidst his despair, one small but fierce bit of determination crawled to the surface. Reaching out with one hand, Harry snapped his fingers, hoping to her face one, final time-

The world lit up like a torch and his energy came rushing back. Gasping, Harry managed to stop himself from falling into his puke and instead rose up. On his knees, he gulped down the pure air that filled his lungs and made his nostrils tingle. In a nearby bush, Harry spied his bag and managed to stumble over, as the energy slowed from a flood to a trickle. Feeling that it was ten times heavier, Harry looked about and saw that he was in a grove, blossoming with life. Flowers of all varieties covered dotted the bushes, and Harry picked up on the sound of music again. It led towards a crack of light, down a narrow, winding path.

He made his way towards it, having to shield himself as he came closer, its brightness comparable to the surface of a star. Once he was just a couple of paces away, Harry felt himself be lifted up. He didn't panic this time; in fact, it felt like he was being lifted into someone's arms as a woman's voice circled around his head, soft and welcoming.

'Harry..Harry..'

'Mum..,' Harry murmured tiredly, ready to drift asleep in her arms when his world changed once again. This time, he was somersaulted into existence and landed in a heap on the ground. Harry didn't notice the impact nor the groan of his injured ribs as he rolled over. Eyes barely staying open, he saw he was in a field, with sheep running away from him in a panic. His stomach growled and his eyes drooped lower, as a booming bark rattled him long enough to hear a girl's voice, far, far away…

'Ború! Ború! Stad! Stad!'