After what felt like hours of searching the surprisingly large building that Imhotep's Cult had taken residence in, Harry, Clione, and Zalika had found a promising room for potion-making. It was clear that this room had been a kitchen at some point but, like so many of the other rooms in this building, hadn't been used in what seemed like decades. So many of the rooms they found were covered in thick layers of dust and sand. Even the storage rooms that were being used by the Cult were still quite dirty. The lack of cleanliness irritated Harry a lot more than it probably should have under normal circumstances.
This room was a long rectangular shape with the main door on one of the short sides. The other short side was raised up several steps and rounded to accommodate the massive cauldron used for cooking. There were prepping tables in nearly every wall and there was a storage closet that had its own door near the massive cauldron. Places to hang herbs were around the many prepping areas, greatly endearing Harry to this space. There were already a few narrow shelves at the rounded end of the room that were used for more commonly used ingredients. Harry stood in the middle of the room, quietly envisioning this space as hers.
And yet she still couldn't relax her shoulders. Her skin prickled with every touch and her mind pulsed painfully with every loud sound. It had been days since the incident with Mr. Hafez and Harry hadn't been able to fully calm down. Even her sleep had been affected by the turmoil in her mind. The only thing she was thankful for was the lack of visions from Heka. She was in no state mentally to deal with that woman right now. Clione and Zalika were talking about the supplies that were already here, but it may as well have been static to Harry.
Clione managed to walk up to Harry without making enough noise to alert Harry and placed a gentle hand on her right shoulder. The touch seemed to cut right through her and agitated her already frayed nerves.
"My Lady?" Clione questioned kindly. "Are you alright?"
Harry tried to smile, but Clione still had a hand on her shoulder. It felt like the skin under Clione's hand was trying to crawl away from the contact.
"It's just been a lot lately. That's all." Harry tried her best to soothe the young girl, but Clione didn't seem convinced. She always seemed a little more perceptive to Harry's moods than her sister. Harry moved away from Clione, feigning interest in the massive cauldron. "It seems like we won't have to buy many cauldrons. That'll save us a lot of money."
Harry knew Clione hesitated to leave her, but did eventually. Harry watched her walk towards her sister, who was still in the storage room to Harry's right, out of the corner of her eye. Even when Clione was out of sight, Harry could feel someone's eyes on her. She looked behind her, wondering if someone else had come in too quietly for Harry to hear, but no. There was no one else in the room but the feeling of being watched didn't waver which only made her more tense. Harry had learned during the war that if it felt like someone was watching her, there was most definitely at least one someone watching her. Her mind drifted to Imhotep on its own, but she yanked back on that train of thought hard. He could be trying to influence her or maybe even be spying on her.
"There are more cauldrons in here!" Zalika called out from the storage room to Harry's left. The sound of her voice echoed painfully inside Harry's skull. She wanted to be alone to fully come to terms with everything that had been happening, but these girls made that nearly impossible. Not that Harry was going to hold it against them, but she really wished they'd take a day off or at least take their 'job' to her less seriously.
Harry tried to rub out the tension of her neck while she walked over to the storage room but it did little to actually help. "How many cauldrons are in here?" Harry asked Zalika, who was surrounded by a dozen or so cauldrons of varying sizes with more on the shelves on either side of her. The smallest Harry could see was about the size of an apple while the largest could be used to bathe a small child.
"So many!" Zalika replied happily. "Thirty? Maybe more?" She added while Clione started to count silently.
Harry was pleased that they had so many supplies already. Made things so much easier to have well used yet trustworthy materials at hand. If only Harry could feel the pleasure. It was drowned out by the static created by all the other conflicting feelings that were swirling into a whirlpool inside her. The girls started to talk between each other which could not make Harry happier. She was tired and feeling out of control of her own body and mind. She wanted Ron or Hermione to be here with her now. To help her work through these feelings. To figure out what was happening here. Fuck, she'd take Parkinson at this point! Someone, anyone!
"...so tall! And those shoulders!" Zalika nearly squealed from inside the storage room.
"I like his jaw line. Very strong." Clione spoke far more subdued but still with a bit of girlish glee.
"Who are you two talking about?" Harry asked, now very interested which of the men she'd seen had caught their attention.
"Oh, you know who!" Zalika replied coyly.
Without warning, Harry was hit with a tidal wave of horrible memories that left her drowning. Bellatrix killing Sirius. Seeing Colin Creevey's tiny dead body. Watching Lord Voldemort use Nagini to try to kill Arthur. Awful memory after awful memory buffeted her mind leaving her unable to think or even breath.
"My Lady?" Clione's soft voice managed to cut through the memory of Lord Voldemort killing Cedric in cold blood. Her eyes were full of fear and worry. "What's wrong?"
Harry's lungs hurt from the shallow breaths she was taking. She needed air but couldn't take any in.
"I'm fine." Harry's voice was far higher than it should have been but she had no control. She needed air. She needed to run. To hide. She'd been careless. They could find her. "Stay here." Harry ordered Clione sharply, making the young girl flinch. "I need to go do…something."
Harry quickly left the girls behind as she practically ran out of the kitchen. She needed to hide. She needed to think about her next move. She needed Hermione and Ron! Turn after turn, Harry wasn't even trying to remember her path. It would confuse her pursuers. She needed air. Her lungs were burning now, like the memory of Hermione's screams echoing down the Malfoy dungeon were still stifling her every sense. Harry walked right into a wall as her vision filled with the green light of the killing curse and her mothers' screams replaced Hermiones. She held the wall as she gasped for breath. Memory after memory hitting her harder each time. Each was clawing her neck, demanding attention when she had none to give. Remus' dead body. Tonks' dead body. Riddle's dead body. Each sprang into her vision. Unwanted, unneeded, yet insisting to be seen against her wishes.
There was no way Harry could tell how long she had been holding the wall when the panic attack began to subside. Her lungs continued to burn even as she was able to take in deeper breaths. She pushed off the wall but kept one hand on it as she tried to will her trembling limbs to cooperate with her. She had had panic attacks in the past but this one had been visceral. She couldn't be sure if it was because she had no one around that she trusted to help her through this one or if there was more pressure behind the dam when it finally broke.
Now that she was able to stand without feeling like her legs were going to give out from under her, she let go of the wall and took a few tentative steps. She just now realized that she was in yet another small storage room that was full of little other than dark and dust. Harry still felt like she was being watched, but a quick peek outside the room told her that there was no one there. Her mind was still fuzzy and she was still feeling adrift in her life but she was feeling a little better. Or maybe just feeling less bad. She'd honestly take either at this point.
Harry started walking down what she felt was the way she had come but after a couple of turns down identical looking hallways she was beginning to really hope that someone would cross her path and point her in the right direction.
"Your Majesty?" The familiar voice called out just as Harry passed through a crossroad in the hallways.
"Lock-Nah!" Harry greeted him happily. "Mind helping me find my way back to where I was? I've gotten turned around."
Lock-Nah walked up to her, looking at her with that critical eye of his. "Are you well? You look paler than usual." He asked with worry in his voice. Harry wondered if it was because he was legitimately worried about her or if he was worried about what Imhotep might do.
"I just got done having a moment, but I'm doing better now." Harry smiled up at the large man. He didn't seem convinced by her empty happiness.
"I was actually coming to find you. Your ladies were distressed when I came looking for you and they had no idea where you had gone." Lock-Nah explained evenly. "Clione told me that she had tried to follow you but lost your trail rather quickly."
Harry sighed deeply. Now she was angry with herself. She didn't like distressing them but having an attack like that in front of them without knowing how to help would have distressed them even more.
"I should apologize to them." Harry sighed as she ran her fingers through her loose hair. "I didn't want to have a panic attack in front of and upset them, but it seems like my quick exit upset them anyway."
"I'm not sure I completely understand but I will take your word for it." Lock-Nah nodded. "I can escort you to the kitchen first, if you would like?" Lock-Nah offered while moving past her to the hallway to her right.
"I should, yes." Lock-Nah began walking and she fell in step with him quickly. She was grateful he took shorter steps for her. "Why were you looking for me?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.
"I have found something that I believe will help your efforts here." Lock-Nah smiled as he spoke. Harry assumed he was pleased with himself, for some reason. She would not pretend that she knew this man or his motivations but he didn't strike as a duplicitous type of person.
They turned a corner and Harry finally recognized where they were. The kitchen was down this hallway that looked nearly exactly the same as the hallway they just turned out of. Minus the one wooden door that was open. Harry walked in and found Clione and Zalika standing in the middle of the main room, surrounded by about a few dozen cauldrons of varying sizes. Clione was the first one to see them.
"My Lady!" Clione exclaimed as she ran to Harry and hugged her fiercely. Zalika was right behind her sister and also latched onto Harry. Harry still wasn't in the best head space to be dealing with so much physical contact but they needed reassurance, so Harry bit her cheek to weather the contact. "Are you ok?" Clione asked softly as she pulled back from Harry. "You left so quickly." She whispered sadly.
"You've lost some of your color." Zalika also sounded sad as she ran her thumb against Harry's cheek.
"I'm doing better now." Harry soothed the girls. "I'm…" Harry wanted to lie to them but chose to be better than that. "I'm not handling things here very well." The girls both took breaths in, probably to try to help Harry in any way she could but they both deflated when Harry held a firm hand up. "I know you two want to help me." The two girls looked up at her with sad eyes. "And you can." They both perked up once more. Harry guided them to the many cauldrons that littered the floor. "I need you two to start cleaning these cauldrons. That way we can move on to verifying they can be used for potions."
"This will help you?" Zalika asked timidly.
"It'll take some of the worry off my mind." Harry smiled at her. "And if you could not say the phrase 'You-Know-Who' again. That would also help."
"Is there something wrong with that phrase?" Clione asked breathlessly. Zalika looked like she was going to vomit.
"Many bad memories from the War." Both girls looked like they were ready to walk themselves to the middle of the ocean so Harry spoke up. "Neither of you did anything wrong." Harry put a hand on one of each of their shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "I thought I was doing better than I actually was. Give me a little time and I'll be back to normal once more." Both girls smiled at her once more, though there was some strain there.
"So, clean the cauldrons?" Zalika asked, turning to look at the size of the project.
"And any storage containers you find." Harry added, feeling more like herself again. She still felt keyed up and hollow but the feeling of habit and contentment were bleeding into it the longer she thought about her project. "I didn't see many containers, so I need to know how many we'll need to buy. If anything seems unsalvageable, set it aside and I'll see if I can clean it."
"I'm not sure The Dread Lord will like you cleaning." Clione spoke nervously.
"I'm not sure I care about what he likes me doing." Harry replied a little snidely. Like that man had anything to say about what she did. "I spent my childhood cooking and cleaning for my family. I refuse to let myself believe that I am ever above such tasks." The two girls smiled brightly at her, helping that hollow feeling fade a little faster. "Lock-Nah needs to talk to me about something, so can I depend on you two to work on this?"
"We'll get it done today!" Zalika announced loudly.
"You don't need to work that hard." Harry soothed the girl's eagerness. "There's no rush, so take your time. We've still got other things to work out before we need this job done."
The two girls nodded in unison to Harry before quickly getting to work on the job given to them. Harry smiled to herself as she walked back to Lock-Nah, who was waiting patiently for her to finish by the door.
"Ready?" He asked without inflection.
Harry nodded to him and they were off again. Lock-Nah kept quiet while they walked into an unfamiliar part of the building. Harry was already lost and really hoped that Lock-Nah would help you back once more. He stopped in front of large, double doors that looked far nicer than all of the other doors that she had seen but gave away little more. The doors themselves looked to be made of marble or something close to it with a gold trim and hardware.
"What's this?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused. She looked up at Lock-Nah, just now noticing that she only came up to his chin. Why did all the men here need to be so much taller than her?
Lock-Nah did not say anything. Instead, he pushed open the large doors with his muscles bulging right in front of Harry's face. He really had some impressive muscles. She quickly averted her eyes before he noticed her stare. She wasn't sure she'd survive the mortification.
Instead she looked at the room he revealed. It was a long rectangular room, not too dissimilar to the kitchen, except that there was nothing actually in the room. The ceiling and walls looked to be made of the same marble like material as the doors they passed through and were bare of anything else. There were several small openings along the top of the room that allowed light into the space. There was another set of double doors on the other end of the room in the same position as the the ones Lock-Nah opened. Before Harry could ask a question, Lock-Nah began walking across the empty rectangular room. He then pushed open the second set of doors that were just as showy as the first set.
The new room was much smaller than the one they were currently in. It was a rounded room with a desk across from the room that was raised higher than the ground level with two sets of short stairs on either side. The rounded wall was covered in shelves that bent with the walls except for where two large open windows were located. Everything in this room was made of the same material as the doors and other rooms, some kind of stone.
"What's this all about Lock-Nah?" Harry finally asked.
"I had a revelation while speaking to someone regarding owls." Lock-Nah began. "If I am to work for you and get the things you request, I will need a place to put them when you are in your Oasis." Lock-Nah explained.
"My Oasis?" Harry asked incredulously. What a ludacris thing to call that strange place. "Why are you calling it that?"
Lock-Nah shifted where he stood, clearly uncomfortable. "The Dread Lord called it 'The Queen's Oasis' and..."
Harry raised her hand quickly which Lock-Nah thankfully took to mean that he needed to stop talking. She kept her head bowed in an effort to hide her blush from him. Once it finally faded enough for her to feel comfortable did she raise her head again.
"You don't need to finish that sentence. Thank you." Harry ground out her words. She was eternally grateful that he did not seem to want to push this conversation further.
"As The Lady insists." Lock-Nah muttered teasingly. Harry leveled a glare at the man but knew it would have little effect on him. "As I was saying, when you are…in there, it's impossible for me to get in contact with you. I spoke with The Dread Lord about the issue. I had suggested allowing certain approved persons into…there but he disagreed."
"Did he now?" Harry spoke softly to herself. She decided to walk up the steps to where the desk was situated. It had the same look as everything else in this space. Made of a marble-like material with gold accents around the outside of the writing area. The drawers under it were much the same. There was a golden Owl Perch attached to the desk on the left side of the desk. The chair was made to look like a smaller version of the seat Imhotep sat in what she considered the main room of the building and had a cushion that looked to be incredibly soft. It was all more than a bit too extravagant for Harry's taste.
"He chose to make this space for you as a compromise." Lock-Nah walked up the steps on the opposite side. He opened the top drawer on his side of the desk. "I've already placed letter writing supplies that I know you'll recognize in this drawer as well as the few potion recipe books I could find so far on the shelves behind the chair. For you to read at your leisure." He pointed to the three lonely books that were sitting on the shelf.
"It's all…very nice. You can tell him that I think it's very nice." Harry said wistfully.
Lock-Nah watched her closely for a moment before speaking. "You could tell him yourself." He suggested carefully.
"If he wanted me to thank him personally, he would have given this to me himself." Harry said with little inflection. The hollow feeling inside of her had started to grow again. Why would Imhotep go to all this trouble of making her these amazing things and yet stay away from her? They'd had one conversation over however long she had been here. It felt like she had been here for weeks and yet she still knew nearly nothing about the man. She wanted to know more about him only to know if she should stay here or run back home. Her mind wandered to Clione and Zalika and what could happen to them if she left. She couldn't do that to them.
"I am sure he has his reasons." Lock-Nah replied hesitantly. It was clear that Harry had let her emotions too free and made Lock-Nah uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Harry sighed, angry at herself once more.
"There is no need to apologize to me, Your Majesty. I am your humble servant." Lock-Nah bowed dramatically with his arms out in obvious exaggeration of deference.
Harry couldn't help the laughing fit that overtook her. To see such a large and imposing man do something so utterly ridiculous hit her just right. Lock-Nah rose with a large smile, telling Harry he did it on purpose.
"Oh, thank you for that. I really needed a good laugh." Harry wiped away a tear that had tried to sneak down her cheek.
"I am glad I am able to help you in whatever small way I can." He reached into the drawer he opened and pulled out something that looked like a small bell. "The man I spoke to regarding owls gave this to me." He tossed the bell to Harry without warning and she was infinitely happy that she had managed to grab it without making a fool of herself. "He said that when you need an owl , you simply need to ring it. An owl will be here within minutes to pick up your letter."
Harry looked at the small bell. It looked like a standard bell made of some sort of silver material with simple hawk designs etched delicately into the sides. The wooden handle was sanded and oiled to a smooth sheen.
"That's actually really helpful." Harry placed the bell by the golden perch. She looked into the open drawer to see several expensive looking quills from different kinds of colorful birds as well as a stack of nice looking parchment and a few small golden containers that she assumed held ink. "This is all amazing. Thank you so much." Harry told the man earnestly. She may still not have a hold on what was actually happening here but this man had already proven himself to be dependable and understanding.
"I really do not mind serving you. Now, how about you get your letter to your friend written." Lock-Nah suggested.
"You don't mind waiting? I'm not sure I could find my way back to the kitchen just yet." Harry asked shyly.
Lock-Nah looked out the open door of the office. "Perhaps we can put up some landmarks for you. But to answer your question, no, I do not mind waiting."
Lock-Nah nodded to her before walking back out of the office and closed the doors behind him to give her privacy which she was so grateful for. Nothing here was making a lot of sense and the weirdness was getting compounded on a near daily basis. She'd already had one panic attack today and she could already feel a second one beginning to build.
Harry decided to not delay writing to Hermione. She needed her best friends' insight, now more than ever. Harry sat down on the chair, finding it to be incredibly soft and comfortable to sit on. Taking out the supplies Lock-Nah had delivered, she could not deny the level of quality all around her.
Thinking about it now, Harry was not sure where to even start. So much had happened in such a short amount of time and each thing seemed more ridiculous and unbelievable than the last. She eventually chose to start when she had been abducted initially by the Death Eaters. It struck Harry how long ago that day felt to her. Months to years ago. She covered her confinement in the dungeons of what she felt were within Malfoy Manor since Draco was there and wrote down everything she could remember from the ritual that brought Imhotep instead of Lord Voldemort.
Imhotep.
That one name brought so many questions and conflicting feelings within Harry to the surface. Where could she even start to explain anything about that man? The ritual was easy. The rest of it was not. She explained everything about him the best she could so that Hermione had a good foundation of information. She did try to soften the six murders she watched him commit, though she wasn't entirely sure why. Thinking back, she had stopped Remus and Sirius from killing Pettigrew during third year, which just made her decision to not speak up to Imhotep during his murders even more confusing. Harry wasn't sure what Hermione would think of the first nine or so murders she watched him commit during the ritual but assumed she wouldn't care much, considering what they were planning on doing to Harry. She poured all her concerns, anxiety, and fear into the letter. It felt more than a little pleading when Harry reread it, but chose to leave it that way. Hermione would understand.
Harry rang the small bell, which made a pleasant high pitched ringing sound, and set to getting the letter into an envelope. This all still felt very silly to Harry but she had decided that she should just go with what was happening here for the time being. When in Rome and all that. She was slightly startled by the large owl that flew into the room suddenly and landed elegantly on the golden perch. It was a beautiful Barn Owl that made a gentle cooing hoot at her.
"Well aren't you gorgeous." Harry told the owl as she gently stroked their chest. It chirped at her again and Harry knew that it wanted the letter. "Please take this to Hermione Granger in Great Britain. She'll be, or should be, at the Weasley's Burrow." Well, Harry guessed she'd be at the Weasley Burrow. It would be unlikely that she'd have gone after her parents before finding Harry after the battle at Hogwarts so that'd be the only place she would feel safe to stay. The owl grabbed the letter and took off quickly, taking a good portion of Harry's anxiety and worry with it. With any luck, Harry would hear back from Hermione in a week or two.
Feeling lighter and more in control now, Harry walked out of the extravagant office into the slightly less extravagant rectangular room. She found Lock-Nah leaning up against the wall to the right of the door with his arms crossed.
"Finished?" He asked in that pleasing deep voice of his.
Harry nodded to him while also giving him a smile. That seemed to please him since he smiled back as they walked to where she hoped she recognized. They didn't speak at all while they walked but it was clear to Harry that Lock-Nah was thinking deeply about something so she chose to keep her words to herself. They turned a corner and Harry realized happily that they were just down from the kitchen. Harry turned to thank Lock-Nah for continuing to escort her around this building but he was looking at her with that same critical eye that she'd come to associate with him.
"You know, I've been wondering," Lock-Nah started slowly. Harry waited for the man to work out whatever he wanted to say to her. "What did he do?"
Harry couldn't parse that statement. "What did who do?"
"Did the Gods roll a dice? Flip a coin?" Lock-Nah continued, like Harry had not spoken. She chose to remain silent and give him time to think through whatever was troubling him. Lock-Nah finally looked down to her, his stare so intense that she thought he might be able to see right through her. "Since you've arrived here, I have been wondering." He paused as his eyes went slightly out of focus. "What did Imhotep do, so long ago, to deserve all that power?" Lock-Nah came back to her and leveled an intense stare at her. "What did he do to deserve a woman like you?" He asked softly.
Harry could feel the blush swarm her cheeks but she was powerless to hide it this time. Not when Lock-Nah already had her pinned with his stare. Another feeling seemed to roll off her shoulders and down her spine that was white hot and left her skin prickling, but she had no idea where that feeling came from or which emotion it was attached to. Lock-Nah nodded to her once more while still keeping the intensity of his gaze in place before he turned and walked away from her. Once he was out of sight was she able to breathe deeply again. She had absolutely no idea how to take any of that.
"My Lady?" Clione's voice cut through Harry, startling her slightly. "Are you alright? Your face is red." She asked with a voice full of concern.
"I'm alright." Harry replied, fully embarrassed now. "How far did you two get?" She was quick to talk about literally anything but the various men in her life right now.
As it turned out, they did not get very far at all. They each managed to clean two cauldrons, leaving a still massive project at hand. Harry listened to the girls' concerns regarding the cleaning and after trying her own hand at cleaning was beginning to wonder if it would just be easier to just get new cauldrons. Harry sat down to help them but quickly figured out what the problem was. These cauldrons had been left caked in old food and other substances for years and now many of them seemed to be beyond salvage. It left Harry a little disheartened. She knew Imhotep had stated that there was money for her to use but she had no idea how this money was collected or how much there even was. She adamantly refused to use money for this if it could be better used to buy food or other supplies for the locals here.
The girls stopped her from continuing to clean when the sun began to set outside. Harry begrudgingly admitted that it had been a long day and sleep sounded wonderful. They escorted her back to her…Oasis…while talking about some things that she had missed while speaking with Lock-Nah. Nothing that interested Harry but it was good to know what happened while she was away. She had learned quickly that people tended to act differently when she was around so it was good that she was hearing about what happened when she was not around from these girls. As much as Harry hated using these girls to her own ends, she knew the information they could gather for her would prove invaluable the longer she chose to stay here.
Tonight she decided she needed a bath before bed and the girls were quick to agree, making Harry wonder if she smelled bad after cleaning the dirty pots or if they just wanted to indulge in the wondrous bath with her. A quick bath and then helped into bed, Harry fell asleep quickly.
As the final warrior this pathetic country had to offer fell to the ground, Imhotep sneered at the innumerable bodies that lie broken and unmoving all around him, staining the sand with all their blood. They were all so utterly worthless. Their strange armor and new age weapons were so insignificant against him, even when wearing only his Schenti. They fought because they thought it was necessary to their survival but it was only a meaningless act.
All they had to do was submit to his Beloved's rule and they would know a peace and prosperity that even the great thinkers could never imagine. Yet country after country rose up to challenge the inevitable and were crushed like the insignificant insects they truly were before him, before HER. The rotten ground must first be properly tilled and fertilized before the seeds of tomorrow can be planted.
The resistance had been crushed, which left this country conquered. The worshippers would be here to clean up the mess and make it ready to receive their rightful ruler within the day. His place was on the field of battle and that meant he needed to move on. Only a small part of the world had been claimed since the time he had promised his Goddess the world.
The feeling of his Beloved's magic dancing across his throat gave him pause. It felt like it had been a thousand years since he last felt her presence. It felt like it was only yesterday. He turned around to face the origin of her magic a bit apprehensively. A thousand thoughts raced through his head, each one worse than the last.
Hari, his greatest desire, was walking towards him while the mutilated remains he had created were moved out of the way by her passive magic. The blood stained sand returned to its golden brown color, as she neared small plants grew in her wake. A true Goddess of Renewal.
Hari was wearing a pure white dress that hugged her body like a snake and was thin enough to give him a tantalizing peek at what lie beneath. The jewelry she wore could only be worn by a Goddess. A golden necklace that intertwined with itself from her neck down past her breasts where it tapered into thin strings and were covered in clear and green gems, that sparkled bright enough to hurt his eyes, hung in various sizes. Her arm bands were golden snakes the curled around her arms several times and whose eyes were also green. She had left her hair natural and braided to the top of her head in a very similar style to the first time she took his breath away by using Divine Magic as easily as breathing.
She stopped just before him and held out her right hand to him. Without thinking, he reached out to grab her hand delicately. He had moved to lay a kiss on her hand when he noticed how dirty his hand was compared to hers. Her skin was pale and pristine, unadulterated by battle or mortal sin, and he had marred that purity without a thought, spreading that filth across her fingers.
"Imhotep." Her melodic voice called out to his soul and brought him back to himself. How easily he was rendered senseless by her presence. "Your campaign has been proceeding slowly." She spoke matter-of-factly, giving nothing of her thoughts and emotions away.
"I beg your forgiveness, My Love." Imhotep quickly dropped to his knees yet unwilling to let go of her hand. "The will of their warriors is strong but I am stronger. I ask only for more time to carry out your command."
"Dearest." Her voice turned soft, threatening to break his resolve in the best way. "I am not here to punish you."
Imhotep looked up at her, hope overflowing his soul. She pulled gently on his hand, bidding him to stand just as their surroundings shifted smoothly without him even feeling the magic she used. Her magical power was matched only by her family, the Gods. He knew immediately where she had brought him. Her Domain. Her Oasis.
Heka had gifted a part of His domain to Hari when she finally ascended at the start of his bloody campaign. Imhotep looked over his shoulder, able to see Heka's Oasis on top of a mountain in the distance. The space between the two was covered in thick clouds that never quite looked right. He turned back to Hari, who was waiting for him to return to her with a soft smile on her lips. Before he could even think of a way to apologize, she was guiding him into her Sanctum.
They walked into the building that was less a building and more a roof that was being held up by many large columns that all looked to be made of the same white stone that shone like polished gold. Pushed back away from the main walkway was an incredibly large bed that was up many steps, not too dissimilar than the one he had made for her after he remerged. One he was sure was far more fit for a Goddess.
Imhotep couldn't help his desire to share what he knew was the most exquisite bed he could know with such a fine woman, but held himself firmly under control. He knew not what she intended by bringing him here, but he did let the pride of knowing that he was the only mortal allowed to be in her most private and intimate places, the only one to be wrapped in her fiery embrace run free.
Hari stopped just as they reached the most inner part of her most holy of places. Her Oasis. The body of water could have passed for a lake surrounded by a huge amount of plants and a few animals. Where Heka's water was left wild and natural, much like magic itself, Hari kept hers contained with the same white stone that the building was made of. She had a small mountain in the middle that had many rivers flowing down from the peak. The mountain and the tall trees all stuck out through a hole in the roof that left the entire Oasis uncovered. He had no idea what the Afterlife might look like, but he didn't care. This was his heaven.
"Dearest." Hari's voice sounded even more ethereal in this place. She gestured to a woven basket that sat next to the raised stone border of the Oasis. "Put your clothes there. I will return once you've relaxed in the water."
She then turned and walked down one of the covered walkways like she guided him down. He watched her leave, greatly enjoying the sway of her hips, before he turned back to the water. He was commanded by his Goddess and he would always obey. He quickly stripped out of his Schenti and placed it in the basket that Hari had pointed out. He wondered if she also meant his arm and leg bands but quickly decided that she wanted him bare and removed them as well.
Sinking into the water felt sublime and Imhotep couldn't help the pride that bubbled up in his chest. He settled into a stone seat he found hidden under the water as the thought that it was very likely that he would be the only person that was born a mortal to be allowed to bathe within the spring of pure magic. He might have studied that thought more had his Goddess not decided to make a reappearance.
Imhotep had not heard her approach, possibly because he was distracted by the feeling of the magic within the water or his own thoughts, but he had heard her enter the water with a gentle sound that had pulled himself from his prideful musings. His Goddess had joined him in the water. Now though, she had shed her dress and elaborate jewelry. It left her in her most natural state that made his body stir in a way that he had not felt in thousands of years.
"You've been doing well on your campaign." Hari spoke daintily as she walked through the water towards him. The water came up to just below her breasts, giving his hungry eyes more skin to feast upon than he'd ever been allowed to before. "Slow as it is." She added with a bit of an inflection he could not quite place, though it felt like she was making a joke.
"Their warriors are strong, both in body and spirit." he repeated. "But I will prevail regardless." Imhotep defended himself. The last thing he wanted was his Goddess to think he was weak in any way. He had been chosen for a reason and he would prove his worth over and over again, if needed.
Hari smiled at him as she reached behind him to grab a dark colored cloth. Her breasts just barely touched his skin and the softness was eclipsed by the rush of magic he felt arc across his chest. He bore down on his desire to pull her into his lap and instead closed his eyes and let the tingling sensation roll down his spine and across the back of his arms and legs. "You need not defend yourself to me." She spoke as she wet the cloth in the water. "I thought you deserved a reward for all your hard work." She looked at him with a soft look that was more loving than any look he had ever received during his mortal life.
"I would never refuse a reward from you, My Love." Imhotep uttered in deference. "I only want to deserve it."
Hari's smile took a sharp edge. "I believe it is my prerogative to decide what you do and do not deserve." She moved closer to him in the water. "And how you receive them."
"Of course." Imhotep replied quickly, suddenly finding it very hard to swallow. "I beg your forgiveness for my presumptuous words."
Hari smiled kindly to him, which eased the strain on his heart. "I have no forgiveness to give as none is required." She was close enough to touch now, though he remained still where he sat. He would not move until she gave him permission. "Now lean back and rest your head. Let me tend you."
Hari was going to tend to him, like she was a lowly servant or slave. In some ways he was thrilled by the idea that she'd run her beautiful fingers over his arms and at the base of his throat. In others he was horrified by the idea that his goddess would debase herself in such a way to care for someone as lowly as himself. He came back to himself quickly enough to follow her command, with obviously mixed feelings about them, shifting down in the stone seat so he could rest his head on the stone edges of the Oasis. He could tell where Hari moved from the waves of the water that gently crashed into him so he was able to keep from whimpering when she touched his shoulder with the cloth. She moved it all around his arm and he was nearly startled when he realized she was washing the dirt of battle off his body. An obvious reward in hindsight, he thought. Hari moved the cloth to his head and washed the sweat and accumulated grime from his skin. Her proximity fraying the edges of his iron control. While she worked he quickly flicked his tongue over his lips in an effort to keep his nervous energy under his thumb. While he may have thought about the possibility in between battles, he never actually believed he would do anything that could be rewarded with being bathed by a Goddess.
"You think quite loudly." Hari whispered in his ear as her ministrations slid down to his chest and at her touch he could feel his heart hammering in his chest. The tightening of his loins as the skin pulled taunt, gently crinkling under her ministrations. A sensation he desperately wanted to savor despite his desire to appease his Goddess. Hari, Goddess that she was, was teasing just the edge of his control. "I feel your reprieve will be underutilized." She seemed to be talking to herself.
Before Imhotep could even think of something to say in his defense, he felt her move once more. She moved her leg and slid gracefully to sit on his thighs. The amount of skin that he now had contact made his whole body respond to her more fully than any spell could accomplish. Without thought his hands found her thighs and this time he groaned in pleasure. Her silk skin delicately fluttered against his own. The contact enflamed his body as her magic blazed across his own. His eyes rolled back into his head as his eyelids closed. Desperately and slowly his hips rolled, trying to push her body forward towards his own. His feet pointed trying to shift the angle of her seated position to bring her undoubtedly searing core in contact with his straining loins.
"There we go." Hari spoke while looking incredibly pleased with herself. "How is that?"
She was speaking to him so casually, like this was just another action, while he was struggling to breath. "Or perhaps you require more incentive?" She asked slyly.
Imhotep could not respond, unable to even think beyond the sea of naked flesh that teased him senseless with the small contact. Hari leaned back and put her hands on his knees, putting herself in a position that made his mouth water yet he refused to move. His eyes snapped open and his head jerked forward to see. She was glorious. Her shoulders rolled back and brought her ivory skin up. Her breasts hung inches from his lips and he cleared his throat, though it sounded more like a guttural growl. He could see her smile at the edges of his vision but his eyes were riveted on the delicate pink nipples that had covered so much of her breasts. Her magic almost carried the same playful nature as her smile and the hair on his arms and neck stood on end as he feasted on the marvelous gift of her skin. He was at her command and she had yet to command him.
With a wicked smile that caught his attention she used her grip on his knees to push herself closer to his body and with that swift motion, she had pressed the most intimate part of her body against his adamant desires. The sudden sensation made his whole body tense as it took every bit of his Temple teachings to maintain his composure. Her heat poured from her core and he was not ashamed to say he whimpered as the sensation settled. His hands quivered and he rolled his hips again just so. She shifted back up to a sitting position, sending more shocks throughout his body with that delicious friction, he moaned and her eyes glittered with amusement. Her hips pressed his needy flesh against his naval but her core glided down him and settled at the root of his sex, her slick heat seared the bundle of his own essence.
"There." Hari breathed the word out. She brought the cloth up once more and returned to washing his chest slowly. "Is that incentive enough?" She asked innocently.
Imhotep wanted to say Yes, it is enough, but he was far too selfish to say that this small contact that she had so graciously gifted him was enough. He wanted to devour her. He wanted her to devour him.
"Please." Imhotep spoke lowly as his hands moved to her waist without his consent. Hari only smiled at him. Her delicate touches rubbed the cloth across his nipples and when she did so a jolt of sensation flashed down his back and settled over top of his hips. His tense body squirmed under her thighs trying to tease her into more contact, more motion.
"Please?" Hari asked him smoothly. "Please what?" She asked with a bit of a commanding edge.
How could he just tell her what he wanted? There was too much that he wanted. He wanted to have her as only a man could. He wanted to take her to the bed they passed and show her why he was chosen. Prove he was worth more than the death he brought her enemies. Find every part of her that she wanted touched, taste every curve of her body. He wanted to be the master of her pleasure just as she was the center of his devotion.
"Must I command you to tell me your desires?" Hari said conversationally as she set the cloth she had been washing him with to the side. Imhotep was strong enough to admit that her command would help him find the words that seemed to dance away from him every time she moved against him.
Hari sighed to herself though Imhotep could not decipher the noise. Was she displeased? Did she lose her patience while waiting for an answer from him? Before he could even think of a way to apologize or offer her whatever boon would keep him in her grace, she leaned towards him to pressed her chest against his fully and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her sex nestled deeply onto his sack, her magic calling to his own. Life magic that no being could resist. Between them with each pound of his heartbeat little globules floated between their bodies. Imhotep's eyes were captured by the woman's emerald gaze. Her arms wrapped possessively around his neck pulled him tight to her as she absently shifted her hips further up his thighs only to return to her original position. Her peaked nipples and molten core now clawing at his sense of propriety.
"Or perhaps I should simply take what I want from you?" She asked right into his ear, though his mind was working just enough for him to recognise that she wasn't really asking. It didn't matter, really. He would never stop her from taking what she wanted from him, even if it was his life. Especially if it was his life. But any thoughts beyond that ended with the feel of so much more of her skin rubbing against his. Imhotep was lost in the sensations, his eyes fluttered shut as his hands trailed up from her hips to under her breasts. He was distantly aware of his hands, kneading into the soft flesh of her sides. He wouldn't be able to stop them even if he cared to.
"Please, Hari. Please." He begged in such a way that he knew the temple teachers would have shamed him for, but he cared little. They were all dead and he had a naked Goddess pressing herself against his too sensitive body.
"Please. Please. Please." Hari mocked him with a high pitched tone. He may have cared if she hadn't also started to roll her hips in earnest. Her most precious jewel against his desire. "You beg so well, yet you don't tell me what it is you actually want." She chided.
Imhotep had no words for her. Each stroke of her beautiful hips sent a weightless sensation straight to his chest, robbing him of all his senses, keeping him in a bliss made entirely by her. She pulled on his neck, using him as leverage to raise herself higher out of the water. He might have asked her what she was doing, but his question was answered when he felt his suddenly freed ridgid desire slip further between her legs. He looked up at her face in wonder, finding her jewel colored eyes heavily lidded, before she moved again and he felt himself slide fully into her body.
"Hari." What little breath he had left in his lungs left him as his entire body felt like it was lit on fire. The pressure. His hands dropped to her hips and instinctively pushed her hips down hard while trying desperately to remain cognisant of his Goddess. His hips moved on their own, trying to push himself further into her body while his grip kept her tight against him. "Hari. Please." He begged her more. For what at this point was lost on him. His release? His death?
"You feel better than I thought you would." Hari sighed happily. His chest tightened with the knowledge that she was taking pleasure from his body. He could actually please his Goddess, if given the chance. Any further thoughts quickly died as she started to roll her hips against, moving him in and out of her body while still rubbing her jewel against him. Imhotep dropped his head against her neck feverishly kissing at her skin as the rest of his mind was occupied screaming the sensations of her sex crushing down on his own. The pressure fracturing the control he tried to maintain and he snarled as he bit down on her shoulder as she squeezed down on him.
Imhotep was mauled by all the sensations she was giving him. Every poor decision, every life he had taken was illuminated by the white hot pleasure that was dripping down his spine to the tightening muscles in his lower back. Her hips began moving faster, increasing the friction and giving him so much pleasure he thought he might actually combust. He tried to touch and grab onto every part of her body at the same time.
"Hari. Hari, please." Imhotep begged once more, feeling his own release coming. He didn't know what she wanted from him. How much she wanted to take.
"Still asking so many questions." Hari leaned against his chest and spoke softly into his ear, her hips never ceasing their delightful torture. "Do it." She commanded with no hint of pleasure in her voice, "Give me your release."
Imhotep was powerless to resist her. Once permission was given, his body responded immediately. His hips rolled and his core tightened, spraying as much of his magical seed into her as it could. His thighs and core locked as he threw his head back and howled his orgasm into the cosmos. His arms and hands tried to force more of his being into her trying to bury his release as deep into her divine womb as he could. Hari, the wonderful merciless goddess, never stopped the movement of her hips even as he neared the end of what he could give her. Her pleased hum echoed throughout his being.
Harry woke up, feeling strangely detached from her body. She felt like she was there, in that vision, but not as herself. She felt like she had been there as Imhotep, watching herself act so very unlike how she normally would. She had the distinct impression that these visions were not coming from her. But that raised a very interesting yet potentially problematic question: Who were these visions coming from?
Not wanting to dwell on anything related to the latest vision or any of the questions around it, Harry quickly got out of bed and started looking for something to wear for the day of cleaning cauldrons. All of the clothes she had available to her were of the same general style, in just about every earth toned color she could imagine. What she wouldn't give for some jeans and a t-shirt. She randomly picked out a dark brown outfit that had a design that reminded her of hieroglyphics. Just as she was finishing getting dressed, she noticed that the artificial sun was beginning to rise from wherever it went when the fake moon was up. She walked out of the bedroom just in time to see a sleepy looking Zalika poke her head out from the side of the curtain that covered the doorway to her room.
"Mmlady?" The young girl slurred with squinted eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Zalika." Harry looked up at the sun, noticing it didn't hurt her eyes, and wondered how she could get it to go back down. The sun quickly fell out of the sky and the moon popped up in an almost comical fashion. "Ah." She said to herself before turning back to Zalika. "I had a weird dream and just can't face sleep again, so I'm going to get an early start on the cauldrons." She explained.
"Lemme get dressed." She muttered but Harry stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about me. Get your sleep and meet me there when you two wake up at a more reasonable hour." Harry tried not to command the girl, but she also knew that these two were too invested in their job to not help her with every little thing without it.
Zalika nodded sleepily while yawning. "We'll find you later." Zalika stumbled back into her room.
Harry stood there and waited to make sure that she actually went back to bed, which she did. She peeked into Clione's room, finding that she was still fast asleep. With them tucked away, Harry left the area through the magical doorway. On the other side, Harry realized that it was still dark out. She didn't like getting up before sunrise, but at least this way she could get some work done alone. The hallways looked different in the dark but she was grateful that she was able to find her way to the kitchen. She wouldn't survive the embarrassment of having to wander around until she happened across someone to help her find her way once more.
The kitchen was incredibly dark, but Harry remembered that there were torches in sconces all around the room. She stood in front of one of them, trying to figure out how she was going to light them without a wand when they all suddenly sprang to life and illuminating the empty room. Harry looked around happily, not sure how she managed to do that, but her mood quickly shifted when she realized all the cauldrons they were cleaning the day before were gone. She looked into the storage room and found the cauldrons all stacked neatly either on the floor under the shelves or in bigger cauldrons. Harry was confused which only got deeper when she looked at the cauldrons and found they all looked brand new.
Harry picked one of the smaller cauldrons up, wanting to take a closer look at it and see if it was actually new or if the old ones were just cleaned very very well by someone else. When she turned around to walk back out she was startled to a stop when she saw Imhotep standing in the doorway. She dropped the cauldron she was holding in her panic which fell to the floor in a noisy cacophony. Imhotep looked incredibly pleased with the situation with that stupid smirk on his stupid face.
"Have you considered making any sort of noise when you enter a room?" Harry suggested sarcastically. "Wear a bell? Clear your throat?"
Imhotep did not speak immediately, instead taking a moment to look around the storage room.
"I see the potion pots have already been replaced." He spoke conversationallyin Parseltongue. The tone seemed almost wrong on him. Like he was a man that should only be ordering and commanding, not having a pleasant dinner conversation.
"Oh, you had them replaced?" Harry asked in kind, feeling a little upset.
"It was clear to me that cleaning the old ones would be a waste of your time." He stated with a small amount of arrogance seeping into his tone. It wasn't exactly like the arrogant tone Lucius used but it was close enough to make her skin crawl.
"The old pots were fine." Harry sighed. Was Imhotep like every other Pureblood that she was used to? Just deciding everything for her because they thought they had the birthright? "The old ones were just dirty. They didn't need to be tossed aside so easily."
Imhotep must have picked up on her mood change as he lost his smirk. "I merely thought this would make your task easier. I beg your forgiveness for my presumption." He spoke softly and seemed properly chastised.
That only upset Harry more. He had done very little to actually remind her of the Purebloods that brutalized everyone around them and she'd put him in that box anyway. She was no better than them at that moment and that thought made her want to tear her hair out.
"Don't be like that." Harry finally said. Imhotep didn't give much away outwardly. It struck Harry that he was probably someone who kept their truer self well hidden. "I'm just being melodramatic over fucking cauldrons." The absurdity of the situation was not lost on her. They stood in silence for a moment before Imhotep broke the silence.
"I was thinking that you might want to leave this place for a time?" Imhotep suggested slowly, tentatively. "You will drive yourself mad if you continue on like this." He added.
Harry hated to admit it but he was right. She was driving herself mad over something that was little more than a distraction for her. A useful distraction for the people here that would benefit from it, but a distraction all the same.
"What did you have in mind?" Harry asked shyly. The longer they spoke, the more she noticed that what language he was speaking became less pronounced. The dual tone quality of his speech that she had noticed with Imhotep and his priest lessened with each word to a single tone. Food for thought but later.
While getting out of this building and away from these people sounded lovely, she wasn't sure about Imhotep specifically. She couldn't deny that he was attractive and had a certain kind of allure but she couldn't ignore just how dangerous he was. But there was something else there that bothered her in a way she couldn't explain or even fathom. Something that was drawing her closer to him without her consent yet she couldn't find a reason to keep fighting it. Other than her pride anyway.
"Allow me to show you." Imhotep spoke as he held out his left hand for her to take.
Harry waffled a bit, wanting to find a reason to refuse him, but ultimately decided against it. While she had watched him commit multiple murders, objectively there was no maliciousness behind his actions. She put her right hand into his open hand, giving this man permission to take her away to wherever he was going to. He smiled softly at her and pulled her out of the storage room like she was made of spun glass. It was unnecessary since Harry had proven how strong she was during the war, but it was still nice to be cared for. Stupid hormones.
Harry felt him use his magic as she came to stand next to him. It felt so strange, so unlike the magic that was used back home. As his magic changed their surroundings, it skittered across her skin in a pleasing way that excited her. Not that she was going to let Imhotep know that little bit of information.
His magic fell away and Harry tried real hard to not miss the feeling. Looking around them, she realized that they were surrounded by desert with only a few objects that might be people or animals off in the distance in a few directions. Harry looked up at Imhotep, realizing that she had let this man, who was still a stranger to her, take her out to the middle of the desert where they were all alone. Not her brightest moment. Stupid hormones.
Imhotep still seemed quite pleased as he continued to lead her up a large sand dune, or at least what she thought was a sand dune. She was not very well versed in the topography of desert climates, being from England and all. Imhotep had no trouble walking up the sandy terrain but Harry struggled a little bit. He at least seemed to slow down when she stumbled while remaining facing forward. She hoped that meant he was preserving her dignity but at this point? Who knew what this man was thinking.
Once at the top, Harry was able to see all around them as Imhotep had managed to find what looked like the tallest Dune in the area. Far off in the distance, she could see small dwellings and blurry objects. She should really look into that new muggle surgery she keeps hearing about and get her eyes fixed.
"I am not surprised you have problems seeing with that eye decoration you wear." Imhotep said conversationally.
"It's not 'eye decoration'," Harry replied a little sharply, "They help me see. I'm practically blind without them." She explained unhappily. They fogged up, they broke, they were a target. She hated wearing glasses.
"Face me." Imhotep commanded, though it was still done softly.
Harry wanted to refuse instinctively, but chose not. She reminded herself once again that he had not done anything that worried her, so she turned to face him. And once again was reminded of just how tall he was. He carefully removed her glasses, robbing her of her sight but it didn't worry Harry. Something told her that he wouldn't hurt her. He placed one of his hands over Harry's eyes, blocking all the light out. Then she felt his magic again. It was stronger now but no less exciting for her to feel. As the feeling fell away, she wanted to follow it and wrap herself in it but she held herself firm. Stupid! Hormones!
Imhotep removed his hand from her face and she was quickly assaulted by blinding light. She moved to cover her eyes once more and get away from the light, but Imhotep moved faster and held her hands down.
"Please let go. The sunlight is hurting my eyes." She whined pathetically.
Imhotep chuckled in a kind way so unlike his normally stoic presence. "It is an effect of the spell." He elaborated further, "It will pass quickly."
Harry gave a half hearted attempt to pull her hands out of his grip but his grip may as well be made of steel. She was forced to wait until she may be able to open her eyes once more. After a moment, the majority of the pain had dissipated enough that she felt comfortable trying to open her eyes. The sunlight was still blinding as it lingered in her vision but the pain from it continued to leave her. After what felt like forever but was probably only ten seconds or so, Harry opened her eyes to the blinding light. It took another eternity before her eyes finally adjusted to the sunlight. The first thing she saw was Imhotep, standing tall and strong before her. She could see him clearly! But that fact deeply confused her.
"You fixed my eyesight." She stated in confusion. Even Dumbledore couldn't fix eyesight. The magic was so particular and so few people had the power or even focus to do so without blinding their patients. "How?"
Imhotep chuckled again. "You will find that I possess many exceptional particularities." He motioned to her. "This was trivial for my abilities." He explained with a certain air of superiority that didn't seem forced or out of place.
Imhotep turned away from her which she was grateful for. He had given her way too much to think about. She thought watching him murder the six cult members effortlessly was impressive, but no. That was just the opening act. He'd just perform a type of healing magic that was largely considered experimental and incredibly dangerous as easy as summoning a cup of tea. Harry felt a chill when she considered what kind of magic was on the upper end of his abilities if this was considered trivial.
As they stood there, Harry had the startling realization that she didn't feel the heat from the sun. She expected to feel something from the intense sun off in the distance, but no. She felt nothing. She was delightfully comfortable and that made Harry worry shapelessly.
Harry spoke up once she felt like she had her emotions back under control. "What are we doing out here?" She asked quietly as she glanced at Imhotep.
"We are just outside the village you know as Itsa." He gestured to her right, so she could assume that she could go that way and reach civilization if pressed. "Fewer people to bother with your magic."
Harry wasn't really sure what he was getting at. He seemed to understand her confusion and raised his left hand upward. The sand far to her left exploded upward and continued high into the sky. It stood there for a moment before it started to move across the sand dunes and towards the people and animals off in the distance. The sand fell down as quickly as it had been brought up just before it actually hit the creatures in the distance. She could just make out one of the people she could see running after the small animals. Imhotep's chuckle cut through the chaos of Harry's mind.
"Oh," Harry replied numbly. "That's what you meant."
Imhotep turned to her with a smile. "You can do whatever you wish out here." He motioned in front of them elegantly. "No one is out there to injure."
Harry wanted to argue with him. She could see the poor farmer off in the distance trying to round up what she thought were goats or dogs. They might not have been injured but their day has been ruined by the chaos Imhotep caused him. And Imhotep didn't seem to mind that at all. It all reminded her of what Hogwarts looked like once the battle was over. Collapsed walls, broken furniture, and scorch marks on nearly every surface from the many spells that missed their targets. And then there was Filch. He may have been an angry old Squib that Harry still disliked deeply but he was not that way without cause. And he would be expected to clean everything.
Deciding on a better way to relax than wanton chaos and destruction, Harry's eyes dropped down to the dip in the sand in front of them. She wanted to relax but she didn't have many great ideas on how to do that. But an idea was starting to form. The dune they were standing on fell into the hole at a bit of a steep angle but the other side was more sloped.
Harry thought back to Heka's Oasis and how relaxing it was. No problems to solve, no issues to face, or enemies to fight. Just a bone deep calm while trying to keep the small creatures in the water from nibbling too hard on her toes. But that raised an interesting question. How was Harry supposed to use her magic to do anything without a wand or Heka's help? Heka's words echoed in her mind.
You already have my power within you. Accept it and it will be yours to shape
It was already there. Already hers to use, however she wanted. But she didn't know how to access it. Harry thought back to helping the child but that memory didn't help her now. Heka was in control of her body and her magic. There was nothing she could latch onto. The magic she used felt so…smooth. So much like breathing.
"Does something trouble you?" Imhotep asked tentatively. Harry must have been quiet for a long time.
"Not troubled, per se. I'm just," Harry tried to think of a way to explain it to him. "Trying to figure out how to use that new magic."
"Ah, yes." Of course he would completely understand. "You were taught to use magic with those pieces of wood." He spoke but it kind of sounded like a question.
"A wand, yes." Harry replied. "It's going to take me some time to figure out how to use wandless magic with any amount of intention or accuracy."
Imhotep looked back out towards the sand, seemingly deep in thought or maybe just giving her some privacy. Harry took the moment of silence to look back down at the dip in the dunes. Imhotep brought her out here to relax and get away from everything back at the village. It was a good idea and she wanted to take advantage of the time he had given her. She concentrated on the dip, thinking back to Heka's Oasis and the calm she found there. Trying to figure out how to access the ability to summon anything.
A large palm tree shot up out of the sand, startling her severely enough that she nearly fell. It stopped high above her head, full grown and healthy. Looking back down at the dip, Harry watched as water began filling the spot while several large dark gray rocks pushed themselves out of the sand and more trees shot up out of the sand. A few smaller plants sprouted up once the water stopped.
Harry had no idea how she did that, or even if she was the one that did, but she was not about to look this gift horse in the mouth. She slid down the dune with little finesse but made it to the water without falling on her ass, so she counted it as a win. She tentatively pushed on one of the large rocks that had pushed its way out of the sand to see if it was solid and found that it did not move at all. She climbed onto it and quickly removed her sandals so she could sit with her feet in the surprisingly cool water.
"You made an Oasis." Imhotep sounded mildly surprised or maybe mildly pleased as he walked down the sand dune with his hands behind his back and with a practiced grace that made her jealous. "Not the magic I had imagined you performing when I brought you out here."
"You will find that I am full of surprises," Harry replied in a way that she realized afterward, sounded flirtatious. Harry felt the blush starting before a sharp pain coming from her toe drew her attention away.
Harry looked down and found that a baby crocodile had bit her toe. That was strange since she didn't see any animals in the water when she stuck her feet in.
"You also summoned young crocodiles." Imhotep sounded incredibly pleased as approached the edge of the water. "Well done." He spoke in a low tone that shot through Harry and excited her in a similar way as the feeling of his magic did. STUPID! HORMONES!
Harry chose to look down at the baby crocodile instead of approaching that train of thought. This one made those laser gun sounds like the one in Heka's Oasis did as it looked up at her. Harry slid her foot under the baby crocodile and lifted it out of the water. It happily ran up her leg and onto her thigh where it settled down and closed its eyes while still making the laser gun sound. She gently rubbed under its jaw with a single finger and it responded by making those strange sounds louder. She didn't intentionally summon baby crocodiles but she was glad they were there.
Harry was brought out of the moment by something brushing against her back. She turned her head just in time to see Imhotep adjusting himself into a more comfortable position as he lay on his side with his arm propping his upper half up while facing her from behind. Harry's mind stuttered slightly as he looked up at her with those dark eyes that spoke of equal parts violence and passion.
"There was a baby crocodile I played with the last time I visited Heka's Oasis." Harry said, hoping it explained anything.
"Crocodiles were revered by my people." Imhotep spoke almost sadly. Harry was struck by the knowledge that, if what she had been told about Imhotep was true, that there was probably very little that reminded him of home in this place and time. That was quite sad. Harry still had a home waiting for her back in England, with friends and memories she could revisit any time she wanted. He had nothing but the decayed ruins of the cities he once visited or lived in. Everyone he knew was dead. The places that held his memories were mostly gone as well. "It lightens my heart that you see their worth as I do." He gave her a soft smile.
Harry wasn't sure about that statement. She didn't mind crocodiles at a distance and she found the babies to be ridiculously cute. The little one in her lap continued to make the sounds that Harry assumed were happy sounds.
Harry felt Imhotep shift closer to her, now nearly brushing against her with his body. She found she didn't mind the near contact and a growing part of herself was already wanting more.