First, I wanted to apologize for late update. It's hard to update chapters when you don't have a laptop. It's even harder when you work nights and can only use the public library's computer.
Second, this chapter was difficult for me to right because of how much I wanted the characters to interact with their worlds. A lot of explaining is going to be crammed together. I can only hope everyone enjoys the new chapter.
It was around 2:00 by the time Harry, Ruby, and Yang got back to the cabin. The trio had taken their time walking back while Harry told Ruby and Yang the same story he told Taiyang and Qrow last night. The girls had listen with complete attention and fascination has Harry described his world.
Yang crossed her arms as she stared at Harry. "You mean to tell me you come from a world of magic where you're hunted by a blood-purifying maniac and his cronies in which escaping them you fell through a magical doorway and landed here in our world?"
Harry frowned, but nodded. While those weren't the exact words he would use to describe his situation, it was the truth.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it."
"Huh. That's a thing."
Ruby scowled at her sister. "Yang, you're making it sound like Harry is making stuff up."
Then Yang did a complete 180, rounding back on Harry.
"Are there actually dragons, elves and unicorns in your world?" Yang asked with glee in her voice.
"Yes," said Harry awkwardly. Yang seemed to be more fascinated with magical creatures than magic itself or the fact he arrived from another world.
"That's awesome!" Yang yelled.
Ruby seemed to be just as excited as Yang, but was holding her composure better. Not much though.
"Is there such a thing as transforming your enemies into toads?" she asked with her hands clasped in front of her chest.
"Yes, there is," Harry answered. Then he smiled. "One man actually enjoyed changing people into ferrets."
"Cool," whispered Ruby with awe. Then she frowned. "But you said you can't use your magic anymore?"
Harry shook his head and showed her his wand. "My wand was powered by a phoenix feather. As you can see, it's gone. Furthermore, the magic within my body seems to have been drained. Trying to force it out like I did earlier made it feel like I'm pushing a marble through my nerves."
"So is that what you trying to do earlier? Waving your wand and saying 'Lumos'?" asked Ruby.
"Lumos is a basic light spell," Harry explained. "If it succeeded, it was to conjure a ball of light at the end of my wand. However, as you saw, I could barely manage only a spark."
"So what does it mean?" asked Yang.
"It means I can't use magic anymore. I'll have to find new ways of defending myself," Harry sighed.
Yang stopped. "Wait a minute. If you can't use magic and you haven't unlocked your aura, then what the heck was that golden fire you punched that Beowolf with?"
"Yeah, it seemed to actually burn that Beowolf. Fire Dust can burn Grimm but not as deadly or effective has your fire," said Ruby.
Harry looked down at his hands. The fire had that once emblazed his hand had caused no damage to him. In the heat of battle, he didn't even feel the burn. He just reacted by instinct.
"I really don't know," answered Harry. "It may be some of the changes my body has made since I've arrived here."
"Wait. Some of the changes?" asked Yang.
Harry turned and looked at both sisters. "Well, for one thing, I used to wear glasses. I was practically blind without them. But since I've been here, I can see clear as day without them. It may also explain why my eye color has changed as well."
"Wait, wait," said Yang as she made a stopping motion with her hands. "Okay, you were blind as a bat but now you can see. And to top it off your eyes were a different color?"
Harry nodded and plucked a leaf off a nearby branch. "That's right. My eye color was once this shade," Harry explained, showing the girls the green leaf.
Ruby stared intently at the leaf while Yang shook her head.
"Well that's a relief," Yang said. "When I first got a good look at you, I thought you might have been Uncle Qrow's child from his wild days he tells me and Ruby."
Harry blanched while Ruby laughed. Harry was about to deny it, but then he remember Qrow had jet-black hair like him and red eyes. Now that he thought about it, it probably wouldn't have been such a farfetched story.
"So do you have any other questions?" asked Harry as the trio started walking back to the cabin.
"I have a few more, but I say we want until after lunch. I'm starving!" Yang proclaimed as she patted her stomach. "Kicking butt really builds up an appetite."
"I have one, if you don't mind," Ruby said softly. Harry smiled and nodded at her to continue. "What are you going to do now?"
"I really don't know," Harry said frowning. "Your dad and Qrow said magic only existed in fairytales, so I really don't have anyone to help me regain my lost magic. And I'm guessing you don't have any magical doorways to other worlds."
"Not that I know of," Ruby said. She put a hand to her chin. "Atlas may. They're always doing weird stuff like that."
"Really?" asked Harry hopefully.
"NO!" Yang yelled as she pulled Ruby's hood over her head. "Atlas focuses on military machines and technology. They don't work on dimension doors."
Ruby pulled her hood off. "But we saw it on T.V. once."
Yang slapped a hand over her eyes. "Ruby that was a sci-fi parody a bunch of movie students made."
"Well, how was I supposed to know?! It had that based on true events sign at the beginning!"
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the two sisters arguing. Despite the situation Harry found himself in, he couldn't help but enjoy his time with Ruby and Yang. Maybe it was the fact they accepted his story without any disbelief. That might have been a little naïve to say the least. However, Harry was grateful for any acceptance. Especially after the horrible year he had at Hogwarts.
The girls were still arguing as they turned down the driveway back to the cabin. It was then Harry heard what sounded like a crash from inside the cabin.
Harry held up an arm to stop the sisters. "Yang, Ruby, did you hear that?"
The girls stopped and listened. There was another crash and what was the distinct sound of Taiyang yelling. Ruby and Yang got their weapons ready and ran to the front door, Yang throwing it open and rushing inside. Ruby and Harry followed.
The living room was empty, but it looked like a hurricane had blown through. The cushions on the couch were misplaced, the chair was overturned, the coffee table was on the other side of the room and a lamp lay shattered on the floor. But there was no sign of Taiyang.
"Dad?" Yang called out.
There was a loud clang from the kitchen and Taiyang ran back into the living room. Zwei was at his heels, barking up at him. Taiyang seemed to be swinging his right hand awkwardly in the air, even spinning around in a circle. Then he put his hand on the floor and stepped on it with his feet and pulled. He seemed to be trying to pull off his fingers.
"Dad, what are you doing?" asked Ruby.
"He's finally cracked," whispered Yang in an exasperated voice.
"No I haven't cracked!" yelled Taiyang. He stepped off his fingers and showed the teens his hand. "Get this thing off!"
The three looked and Harry gasped when he saw what was wrong. There, growling viciously, was his wallet. The brown, furry wallet latched itself on Taiyang's middle and index fingers. A small trail of blood was running down Taiyang's hand.
"What is that?" asked Ruby.
"That's my wallet," Harry said meekly. The girls looked at him with confusion. Harry reached out and stroked his wallet in three clockwise circles that Hagrid had shown him when he couldn't figure out how it worked. The wallet froze and fell from Taiyang's fingers, landing softly onto the floor. Zwei growled at it menacingly.
Taiyang grabbed the bandana from his arm and wrapped it around his fingers. He tried not to whimper as Ruby and Yang laughed hilariously at him. Ruby was actually leaning on her scythe as she tried to catch her breath.
"Sorry about that," Harry apologized as he put his wallet back into his pocket.
"What the hell was that?" Taiyang demanded.
"It was a gift from a friend. It's charmed to bite intruders if it's not rubbed a certain way. I'm completely forgot about it."
Ruby and Yang stopped laughing long enough to stare at Harry.
"Charmed? You mean magically charmed?" asked Ruby with wide eyes.
Harry nodded and pulled his wallet back out. Ruby carefully reached for it with a finger. Before she could touch it, the wallet began to growl a warning.
"Wow. It's like it's almost alive," Yang said. Unlike Ruby, she poked it. The wallet took a vicious snap at her finger, exposing two large fangs. It didn't faze her though. "Cool."
"Oh, yeah. Real cool," Taiyang muttered as he squeezed the bandana to stop the bleeding. "I'm going to kill Qrow."
"What did he do?" asked Ruby.
"He called and told me to re-check Harry's wallet to see if there was any I.D. in it. That jerk. He already knew about it. Probably having a good laugh right now."
"I'm sorry about that," Harry apologized. "I probably should have warned you about my stuff earlier."
Taiyang didn't say anything and walked into the kitchen. He ran his injured hand under the faucet, cleaning the way the blood. The teens followed him.
"Where is Uncle Qrow?" asked Ruby.
"He had another mission this morning. He's going to be gone for a while. It's in Mistral."
"Again?" asked Ruby sadly.
"Orders. Did you three find what you were looking for?" asked Taiyang.
"I did. However…" Harry hesitantly started.
"What?"
Harry pulled his wand from his back pocket and placed onto the table. Taiyang and the girls stared at it as Harry took a breath.
"Something happened at the meadow where we found it. Something that lead to me telling Ruby and Yang about my world a little earlier than planned."
"So you know," Taiyang said to his daughters.
Ruby nodded. "About Harry being from another world and his magic? He told us. And we believe him."
Taiyang snorted. "Well, I'm still having trouble. Although, that wallet with the teeth is bringing me a little bit closer. Yang, can you get the first-aid kit from the bathroom? The stupid teeth got me before my aura blocked it."
Yang nodded and went to leave, only to stop and look curiously at Harry.
"Wait, couldn't you…?" she started but then drifted off as she pointed to her eyes.
Harry and Ruby looked at her with confusion before Ruby squeaked and clapped her hands together.
"Harry, your tears. That would heal Dad and convince him about your abilities."
"His what?" asked Taiyang. "Girls, I'm bleeding and my aura isn't kicking in as quick as I want to. This isn't the time for jokes."
They didn't answer. Harry took a deep breath and walked over to Taiyang. He grabbed the man's injured hand and brought it close to his face.
"What are you doing?" Taiyang asked, his eyes showing his discomfort at his hand being held.
"Just don't freak out," Harry told him.
Harry saw the wounds. Two, deep puncture marks on both his index and middle finger. The fangs had gone clear through. When he saw the wounds, Harry's eyes began to mist over without even feeling any emotion. Soon, several tears poured down his cheeks and landed on Taiyang's wounds. Taiyang immediately pulled his hand back, casting a suspicious glare at Harry.
"Just what the hell are you doing? That isn't sanitary," he said.
"Dad, just wait," Yang said. "Like he said, something happened while we were out."
"What happened?"
Yang pointed to her father's hand. "Just look."
Taiyang looked at his hand and was shocked to see his wounds closing. In seconds, the holes had healed. His fingers still had blood, but there was no wound. Not even a scar.
"Wha-?" he said stupidly.
"Harry's tears can heal," Ruby chirped happily. "We were attacked by Beowolves and Harry was injured. When he cried on his arm, he was healed."
Taiyang looked up at the kids. "Wait, what?"
Harry wiped his eyes. "Maybe we should start from the beginning."
While Taiyang made lunch, Harry and Ruby explained what happened in the meadow near Summer's grave. Taiyang listened intently while Yang watched with fascination, as though she had heard the story already. Harry continued telling the story even when Taiyang passed out plates of sandwiches and soup. Ruby even added her own views in between gulps of soup.
"…and then we come home to find your fingers getting eating by Harry's wallet," Ruby finished with a wave of her spoon.
Taiyang reached across the table and picked up the wand. He gave rolled it around his hands, even giving it a wave. Then he placed it back down.
"So, you're wand's core is gone and possibly your magic?" he asked Harry. "What's more, you have better eyesight, strength, healing tears, and even gold fire. However, you haven't had you aura unlocked."
Harry nodded. "Before I arrived here in your world, I've never even heard of aura or semblances. Could my aura have been unlocked when I arrived?"
Taiyang placed his napkin on his plate and stood up. "Let's find out. Yang, go get Qrow's large scroll. Ruby, grabbed the aura sensor from the hallway closet."
The girls left and Harry followed Taiyang out of the kitchen door to the backyard. He placed Harry in a small clearing just a few meters before they entered the woods. Barely a minute later, Yang and Ruby joined them with the items Taiyang requested. Yang gave her father a white device and Taiyang opened what was larger scroll than the one he used last night. He took the item from Ruby, which looked like a floodlight, and placed in front of Harry. The girls stood beside their father while he furiously tapped on the scroll's screen.
"Ok, Harry, this won't hurt at all. What I'm going to do is scan you to see if you have any aura. Since Yang and Ruby have already unlocked theirs, my scroll will automatically measure their levels without the use of the sensor. But since you never been scanned, your aura levels, if you have any, will not be picked up."
Harry nodded, following along a little bit with what he was saying. "So what do I do?"
Taiyang suddenly held the scroll to his eye level. "Smile." Harry had only an instant to put one a smile before there was a chirp from the scroll and Taiyang brought it back down. Harry saw his picture pop up on the thin screen.
"Try not to wiggle," Ruby said as she looked over her father's elbow.
"Okay, ready?" asked Taiyang. Harry nodded and Taiyang pressed a button on the screen. "Here we go."
The sensor beeped before it projected a blue light over Harry. It slowly rose, scanning Harry from his feet to his head, the lowered slowly back down. There was a moment when nothing happened before a there was a beep. Taiyang looked at the screen and frowned.
"Nothing." he said. He turned to his girls. "Are you sure he was using his semblance earlier?"
Yang waved her hands above her head. "Of course! He punched a Beowolf in the snout with his fist covered in gold and red fire! I know what I saw!"
Taiyang pointed his finger at the screen. "Well, it's saying 'no aura detected'. Unless Qrow is getting cheap with his scroll purchases, you must have been seeing things."
Ruby approached Harry while Taiyang and Yang were arguing. "Harry, do you think you can produce your fire again?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I'm sure how I did the first time. It was kind of a spur of the moment kind of thing."
Ruby smiled. "I understand. But can you try?"
Harry sighed and held his hand, palm up. He didn't even know what to do or even how his flames even worked. Yang and Taiyang stopped arguing as the watched Harry's movements. Harry focused on trying to conjure up a flame for several moments with no results. He grunted with frustration and put his hand down.
"I can't," he murmured. "I don't know even where to begin."
"Well, think back," interjected Yang. "What were you feeling when you faced that Beowolf earlier?"
"I felt…." Harry trailed off as he remembered his fight. "Strong. I felt invincible. It was like my fear left me and I could take on the Beowolf barehanded. Kind of like an instinct. When I realized my wand was gone, I had to fight….using my own….power?"
Harry suddenly felt a tingle of the feeling he had earlier. He cupped his hand out again and tried focusing on his feelings. He tried to imagine his life was in immediate danger and that he had the courage to face his enemy, yet was calm enough to focus.
A small red-gold flame sparked into his palm, no bigger than a candle flame. But as Harry's breathing was under control, the flame steadily grew until his fist was emblazed with small inferno. Harry marveled at the fact his hand was on fire, yet didn't feel any pain.
Everyone else was staring at Harry with shock. Their shock escalated when Taiyang glanced down at the scroll.
"Still nothing," he announced.
"How is that possible?" Yang said. "That's obviously a semblance he's using. How can the sensor not get a reading?"
"Maybe it's broken," Ruby suggested as she glanced at the sensor on the ground.
"No, it's working," said Taiyang. He folded the scroll into its compact form. "This is something else. Something more than aura."
Harry's control over his fire was lost and it burned out. He kept staring at his hand, wondering about the power he now possessed.
"What is aura?" Harry asked them. He thought he should finally get that question answered.
Taiyang sighed and picked up the sensor. "I'll make some tea. We're in for a long afternoon."
It was a long afternoon. But a lot of questions had been answered.
Harry sat on the couch in the living room, trying to absorb everything he learned over the past few hours. His brain was divided into no believing everything he learned, because of the impossibility, and accepting the truth, for it could only explain what's happening.
While Harry sat with his thoughts, Taiyang asked Ruby and Yang to help with dinner. While it was not necessary to help, Taiyang told the girls Harry needed some time to himself. The boy needed time to understand his situation and while friends could help him adjust, Harry needed to come to grips with his new reality on his own.
However, Taiyang, Ruby, and Yang all agreed and told Harry that they will help him in any way they can. Harry thanked them and went into the living room to think.
So, Remnant, huh? He thought.
When they showed Harry the map of Remnant, Harry was amazed at how this world looked. With only a few large continents and several large and small islands. They showed him the continents of Sanus, Anima, Solitas, Menagerie, as well as the important islands of Vytal and the tiny island of Patch, where they resided off the kingdom of Vale. There were kingdoms on each continent: Vale, Vacuo, Mistral and Atlas.
These were the four major kingdoms in the world, each with its own cultures, governments, lifestyles, and armies. Each kingdom had its council that made the decisions for its kingdom, except Atlas, which its government, military, and academies were one in the same.
Then they got to the Grimm.
Harry was shocked to realize the attack on the teens earlier was a common occurrence throughout the world. The creatures of Grimm were numerous in numbers and species. They showed Harry several different pictures of Grimm species. They were similar to several animals in Harry's world, like wolves, boars, bears and crows. There were even some species that had no resemblance to anything animal-like at all.
Harry learned for a long as mankind as existed, Grimm have existed as well. Each species seemed so determined to destroy each other. Humans had only their weapons to defend themselves, but eventually discovered aura. Aura was the manifestation of the soul. Harry was shocked to learn that warriors in Remnant have actually learned to harness their own auras. Aura can be used for a number of powers with the proper training, the most common being a protective shield over a warrior's body. Other powers include healing, power, speed, and endurance. However, you could only use aura if you had another person unlock it for you with their aura and an simple incantation.
Semblances, what Yang called his fire, was a special ability unique to an aura's user. It was the proper manifestation of aura. While all living things with a soul had aura, a semblance, properly harnessed, was different for every warrior.
Ruby and Yang showed Harry their semblances. Ruby's was speed. She zipped to the end of the driveway and back, quicker than anything Harry had ever seen before. Ruby was so quick the only thing he could really follow was the trail of rose petals that floated behind her.
Yang's semblance was using the damage she took from her opponents and using it to retaliate twice as hard back to them. Since she didn't have an opponent, she merely activated it. Her body and hair was surrounded by a glowing, yellow aura and her eyes turned red. Similar to her uncle's.
But despite their auras and semblances, Grimm were still a dangerous threat to the world. Aura could be depleted from taking the blunt force of fights. Using a semblance would waste any aura just as quickly as injuries, so everyone would have to be careful when using their semblances.
Harry felt guilty when he found out that Grimm can sense the negative emotions people emit. The Beowolves must have sensed his frustrations earlier when he found his wand and drawn them to him, Ruby and Yang. He apologized and everyone accepted it with no hard feelings.
Then they got to Dust.
Dust was crystalized energy of the elements. There was fire, electricity, water, wind, earth. Others included uncommon or combinations, like ice, steam, and gravity. Mankind found out they could combine their auras with Dust and harness the elements themselves. It was this usage that helped mankind turn the tide with their war with the Grimm. Soon they were able to harness dust for everyday uses. Taiyang opened the stove Harry used this morning and showed him the fine, crystalized powder of fire Dust.
Yang and Ruby both used Dust rounds with their weapons. Yang used shotgun rounds while Ruby used rifle rounds for her sniper. Dust rounds were common usage with military and law enforcement because you didn't need any aura to use them.
Soft footsteps broke Harry from his recollections. He turned to see Ruby slowly approaching him. She gave him an apologetic smile when he caught her.
"Sorry. I know dad said to give you some space," she admitted sheepishly.
Harry smiled at her and moved to the other side of the couch. "It's okay. Have a seat."
Ruby grinned and sat down on the other side of the couch. The two gazed at each other for a moment. It hard for him to imagine that this tiny, cheerful girl was basically a warrior-in-training.
Or as she and Yang put it, Huntresses.
Harry learned that Signal academy is a combat school. Taiyang actually taught students hand-to-hand combat techniques. He was a fighter, plain and simple. But he was also the schools Geography teacher. Qrow was the weapons specialist and history teacher. However, Qrow was away more than Taiyang because he volunteered for more missions around the kingdom. Yang learned all of her techniques from her father while Ruby learned how to use a scythe from her uncle.
While there were several small combat schools over Remnant, there were only four major combat academies. Each one was in their respected kingdoms: Beacon in Vale, Shade in Vacuo, Haven in Mistral and Atlas. When a Hunter-in-training turned 17 during the year, they could participate in an entrance exam to be accepted as students for four years. Once they graduate, they become full-fledged Hunters and Huntresses.
Yang graduated from Signal Academy just three days ago, and will attend Beacon's entrance exam in two months. Ruby, only just turning 15 last month, would have to wait two more years.
Harry noticed how Ruby frowned when Yang mentioned she was attending another school.
"Something on your mind?" asked Ruby.
Harry's train of thought was broken. He shook his head, clearing his mind. "Just still absorbing everything."
"I can't imagine what it would be like to wake up in another world. It must be so intense for you."
"I'm doing better. I'm very grateful that I was saved and sheltered by some very special people."
Ruby smiled, a light blush on her cheeks. "I'm happy to help. I know dad and Yang feel the same."
"I have to ask you something, if you don't mind."
"Sure."
"What's combat school like?"
"Oh, it's the best! We get to attend with all the other teens on the island and even a few from Vale. Every day we learn about fighting techniques, Grimm, Dust and even weapons. Everyone gets to make their very own personal weapon."
"Wait," said Harry, glancing at the folded scythe next to the front door. "You made that?"
"Of course. Everyone at Signal forges their own weapons. My uncle Qrow told me a Hunter is only as good as his or her weapon. But if they don't know their weapon to the very last bolt and gear, they're good as dead."
"Building your own weapons? That's wicked," Harry grinned.
"'Wicked'? I like that," Ruby said. "Interesting word."
"But I must know, what made you want to be a Huntress in the first place?"
Ruby's grin faded somewhat as she pulled her knees up and hugged them. "One of the few memories I have of my mother was her reading stories to me and Yang about the heroic deeds of Hunters and Huntresses. They slain monsters and saved lives, just like my mom and dad did. My feelings didn't change even when my mom died. Since then, I've always wanted to protect people who couldn't protect themselves. To fight for what was right."
Harry's eyes drifted to his feet. "I'm sorry."
Ruby turned to him and gave him a reassuring smile. "It's okay. It happened a long time ago. I still have Yang, Dad, and Uncle Qrow. And I know I've made my mom proud." She fingered the red cloak still wrapped around her shoulders. "She made this for me. About a year after I was born."
Harry stared sadly at the small girl. She too had a hard life. And she wanted to fight monsters for a living.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of Yang and Taiyang preparing dinner, when Ruby asked Harry a question.
"Harry, what's it like having magic?"
A bright smile lit up Harry's face. "It's like seeing the world for the first time after living in the darkness all your life. When Hagrid first told me I was a wizard, it was hard to believe. But when he asked me if I ever did anything that seemed impossible, I realized the truth." Harry then chuckled. "One time, when my aunt gave me a particularly dreadful haircut, I was actually able to grow back my hair overnight."
Ruby gasped. "Really?"
"Yes. I once shrunk an ugly sweater I refused to wear, turned a teacher's wig blue, and even once teleported on top of my school's roof."
"You what?"
"We call it apparition, which teleporting from one place to another. I was being chased by my cousin and his friends. They cornered me into an alley. I tried jumping on top on a trash can when I suddenly ended up on the roof. I was extremely lucky."
"Why?"
"Because of splinching. I've never seen it happen, but it's dangerous. It's when pieces of your body refuse to go with you when you apparate and remain behind. You actually need a license to apparate."
Ruby winced when she heard about splinching. It sounded horrible.
"My eyes were really opened up when we went to Diagon Alley. It was a wizarding district hidden from the rest of the world. It was the place to get my school supplies. Robes, spellbooks, wands, potion ingredients, cauldrons."
Ruby stifled a laugh. "Cauldrons?"
Harry chuckled. "I know. As a matter of fact, a lot of stereotypes are probably true about wizards and witches."
"Could you brew a love potion?" Ruby smirked.
"Actually," Harry grinned, "love potions are illegal."
"Of course."
"Even though my parents had passed, I learned that they left me small fortune to help support me. Hagrid took me to the wizarding bank Gringotts. It was a bank owned by goblins."
Ruby's jaw dropped. "Goblins? Ugly, pointed noses, about four feet tall?"
Harry shrugged. "Actually, they're about three feet tall. They're vicious, too. Wizards and goblins were at war for years in the old times. Even now, at peace, there is still tension."
Ruby nodded, following along. "You said wizards have banks?"
Harry pulled out his wallet and opened it. Inside was a small, extendable charm, not much bigger than his original money bag. It held a handful of wizarding coins that Harry still had. He pulled out three coins and showed them to Ruby.
"These are the coins we use in the wizarding world: Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts."
Ruby gasped. "Harry, are these real?"
"Yes, they are. Why?"
"Because gold and silver are very valuable in Remnant." She reached out and touched the Galleon. "You could get a lot of Lien for this at pawn shop or bank."
Harry's brow furrowed. "Lien?"
Ruby reached behind her back and pulled out a small, leather wallet with several, colorful cards. She pulled one out and showed him both sides. One side was bright red with an 'L' symbol on all four corners. The symbol also had two lines across the 'L'. The other side was white with a thin, black stripe.
"It looks like a credit card," said Harry, remembering his uncle using one several times. He took it from Ruby's hands.
"It does, but it's not," Ruby explained. "All of our money is digital, not paper or coins. That way, there is less chance of counterfeiting."
"Huh," Harry commented as he flipped the card in his hand.
"Dinner's ready!" Taiyang called from the kitchen.
Harry returned the card and both teens pocketed their money.
"Come on," Harry said as he offered a hand to Ruby. "I'll tell you more about magic over dinner."
Dinner, a nice spaghetti and meatballs with fresh bread, lasted longer than normal as Harry explained the early lessons he had in magic. From the early matchsticks into needles to the feather levitations in charms. And even more lessons in wizarding plants, astronomy, and his least favorite lesson, potions.
His smile grew even bigger when he began to talk about Quidditch and flying.
Everyone almost spat out their food laughing when they found out wizards and witches still rode on broomsticks. Harry had to laugh with them, realizing it was a bit funny.
But when Harry began explaining how flying was one of the most natural things in the world for him, the three hung on to his every word. Harry explained the rules, players and balls for Quidditch. He went into more detail on flying than any other subject in his magical world. From his harshest matches to the Quidditch Cup.
It wasn't until around 9:30 that Taiyang called it quits on Harry's storytelling, much to the protest of Yang and Ruby.
"We're going to Vale tomorrow, bright and early. You kids need your rest if we want to catch the first airship out of Patch."
"Airship?" asked Harry.
Yang grinned. "We can fly here in this world, too. It's not as fun as a broomstick, but it gets us places."
"I can't wait," admitted Harry. "But why are we going to Vale?"
"We need to fill out Yang's registration for Beacon's initiation," explained Taiyang. Only Harry noticed how Ruby's expression became downcast. "Meanwhile, Ruby can show you around Vale."
"I would like that," said Harry, shooting Ruby a smile. She smiled back.
"Are you two going to need any money? Harry, I know you could use some new clothes. You can't keep wearing my clothes or Qrow's."
"I got it covered, Dad," Ruby said.
"You do?" Taiyang asked. Ruby nodded. "Okay then. If you two need any help, just ask."
The girl then went their way up the stairs and to their room. Taiyang yawned and stretched, heading to the living room. Harry followed.
"If you want to watch the news, go ahead," Taiyang said. "It might help with your adjustment in our world."
"Umm….okay," Harry stammered as he looked around the living room for any sort of television. "How?"
"Oh, right." Taiyang picked up remote on the coffee table and pointed it at the empty television stand on the far side of the living room. On the stand was what looked like a fancy stereo system. But Harry's jaw dropped when it projected a large hologram of a lavender haired woman speaking to the camera.
"Good evening. I'm Lisa Lavender and this is the evening news. Our top story tonight…"
Taiyang placed the remote back on the table and made his way upstairs.
"Don't' stay up too late," said Taiyang as he dimmed the lights from upstairs. The living room darkened until the only light came from the hologram.
"Okay," Harry mumbled. He was still a little surprised.
"…In other news, a village outside of Vale was saved from a Grimm invasion, thanks to the Hunters and Huntresses that happened to be returning from an earlier mission. There were a few injuries reported, but no deaths. This is the third village attacked in the last month."
The camera cut from Lavender to footage of Hunters fighting Grimm. Several warriors in armor were fighting the monsters with several unusual weapons. They used swords, axes, lances, and knives they seemed to quickly transform into rifles, shotguns and pistols. Harry was mesmerized by the skill and power the Hunters were using to fight Grimm. He even saw one Hunter use what looked like ice to fight. Their techniques were like the ones Yang and Ruby used against the Beowolves.
"Wow," he whispered.
"Another shipment of dust was stolen from a train coming from Vacuo. At least ten containers were confirmed stolen while several others were destroyed. While there are no current suspects, several comments have been made that this was the work of the White Fang. Several members of the organization were seen in the area just before the robbery. However, no evidence has been found."
Faunus. Taiyang had explained what a faunus was earlier. Harry was surprised to learn that there was what many considered to be another race of humans on Remnant. Faunus were individuals who possessed physical animal traits. Some had ears while others had tails. There had even been a few who had antlers or claws. Yang had shown him a picture of one of her friends who had mouse ears.
Harry had to grit his teeth when he heard how people treated faunus. Personally, he saw nothing with faunus. Alastor Moody was a man who was missing several body parts and Harry still respected him. Why should having extra ears or a tail be any different? Harry was one in believing an individual shouldn't be judged by appearances.
He got some warm smiles from the others when he said that.
"There was a major scandal today involving movie star Spruce Willis-"
Harry clicked off the TV and stood, stretching his arms over his head. It had been a long and interesting day. His first full day in a new world and so much had happened. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe such a world could exist.
He smiled. Then again, he thought the same thing about the magical world.
"Rwarf."
Harry looked to the door to see Zwei looking at him. The corgi scratched on the door once, then turned in a circle.
"Okay, Zwei. Last time, okay?" Zwei barked his answer.
In the brisk evening air, Harry let the dog do his business while he stared at the moon. The full, but shattered moon hung in the sky. Harry asked what happened. Apparently, nobody knows what happened to the moon. It's been like that for as long as mankind as existed.
Harry took a deep breath and looked at his hand. Mere hours ago, his hand was blazed with the red-gold fires he knew all too well. He saw that fire the first time he met Fawkes. The phoenix was on his Burning Day, the day his old body erupted in fire and was reborn from the ashes.
He closed his hand then rubbed his eyes, still marveling at the fact he didn't need glasses anymore. The same eyes, which hours earlier, had shed the same tears Fawkes did when Harry was injured by Salazar Slytherin's basilisk.
'Their tears have healing powers.'
When Zwei was finished, they both went back inside the house. Harry locked the door while Zwei watched him. Harry walked over the couch. Then, he bent forward and grabbed the bottom of the couch. Taking a deep breath, he tensed his muscles and lifted the couch. The furniture easily rose off the ground. Harry didn't feel any exertion on his body at all. He even tried holding it up with one hand.
'They can carry immensely heavy loads.'
Harry eased the couch back down. He heard a confused whine come from Zwei.
"Zwei, I don't know how, but I've seem to gain some familiar abilities," he told the dog.
"Rwarf."
He pulled his wand from his back pocket. "Maybe I haven't lost my magic at all. Maybe my magic just….changed."
"Rwarf."
Harry put his wand on the coffee table, then laid down on the couch. He pulled the afghan off the top of the couch and pulled it over himself. Yawning, he settled himself comfortably on the soft leather. It was a few seconds later when he felt small weight jump on his legs and walk onto his stomach. Harry opened his eyes and saw Zwei staring at him.
"Oh, all right. Just for tonight."
Zwei licked him on the chin, then settled himself on Harry's stomach. Harry scratched the corgi behind the ears for a few moments. Then drifted off to sleep.
I hope everyone enjoyed the new chapter.
