~Author's Note~
So, we have a chapter here to bridge the gap to the First Task. I thought that might be a good chance to engage the readers a bit. First of all: Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it all, though some of it is a bit of a mystery for me. More directly, let's go through some reviews.
@ingwecz:
While it is your good right to dislike Dobby, please note that the little guy was abused daily and lived similarly to a slave. He risked his life to keep a person he didn't even personally know safe from a dark plot, simply because he presumably ended a dangerous dark lord. While I get your point of view, if you look at the actions we saw from him later on, I find it highly unlikely for him to betray anyone who treats him with a small measure of respect. He died for them and he did so with a smile on his lips. Those aren't the actions of a disloyal creature. That said, thank you for reading the mess I am throwing out there! I'm glad you enjoy it.
@moose3333:
I agree and there won't be a major development in their relationship for some time. They acknowledge their mutual attraction and Harriet definitely feels more than dependency, but they are both comfortable with how things are and there is no need to rush. I dislike it as much if the development in a relationship makes no sense whatsoever as I do when there isn't any development at all.
As for your point for the Horcrux: I agree to a degree. But I think you are mixing some things up here. To cast the Killing Curse, you need to channel your Hatred into it. Your intention to kill. There is a prerequisite in terms of power but that's negligible since even the rat could cast it. That does not mean one can not regret the kill. It doesn't have to be remorseless.
Another point is that to finish the ritual you have to knowingly and remorselessly end an innocent life, at least that's the case in my story. I am of the firm opinion that only young children are truly innocent as everyone has done some things they aren't exactly proud of. That distinction makes all the difference for me. Of course splitting your soul is a horrid practice, but if it could be achieved by more benign means, I still think it wouldn't cause quite as much outrage. Thank you for reading and commenting though! I love to get criticism and discuss it!
@Griezz:
I wanted to establish their characters a bit before expanding the cast and I probably overdid it a bit. As for the consequences for the bullying: I agree in general, but the situation is different here. Those bullying cases never went as far as they did in canon, since there was someone actively stepping in. In Luna's first year, she was too shy and repressed to search for help with her problems. She was still reeling from her mother's death and she was a bit numb about everything. Flitwick simply didn't know and since Winston stepped in quickly, he never got the chance to. Thank you for reading and commenting!
The last one I want to address is a guest reviewer and it's the one I have a hard time to understand. If you dislike FemHarry stories and you read it in a synopsis where I put it specifically to warn people who dislike it, why do you feel the need to comment on it? Just read something else, it's fine! It simply evades me why you feel the need to attack and verbally thrash a story you haven't even read. Also, if you want everything to stay canon, just read the books! They are quite good, you know?
Edit: I forgot to mention that the first longer fighting sequence I wrote for this story is in here, around the end of the chapter. Please let me know what you thought of it and what I could do better since action isn't really my forte.
That's it from me and without further ado, enjoy the chapter!
~Harriet Azalea Potter~
She was a bit puzzled when something poked her leg. She was just seriously listening to Flitwick as he explained the theoretical intricacies of the Summoning Charm when it happened. Looking down, what she saw was an adorable but unidentifiable creature made out of parchment scaling her leg as if it was a mountain. A bit hesitantly, she reached down and let it jump into her hand.
It quickly unfolded itself into a perfectly smooth sheet of parchment. There was only one word to be read on it but she understood immediately. 'Map'. Only a few people knew about it and only five of those, she thought capable of creating a parchment golem like this. Three of them didn't talk to her at the moment and one would have made it a snorkack instead.
'It's most likely from Winston.' She thought which caused her excitement to soar. She wanted to read it immediately but decided to wait until the lesson was over. She had two hours of free time in between this one and the next, which was more than enough time to read the note and have a small lunch in the kitchen.
They hadn't been able to meet up the previous evening since Winston finally managed to meet with Fumbledore, and he was working on something in the morning since his first lesson was an hour later than hers. This lead to her having breakfast with Luna, who decided to create an army of Pudding Soldiers. They took over the table and claimed it as territory for her excellency, The Pudding Empress.
Luckily, Luna stopped them before they could start a true war-effort but not before she let them crown her with regalia entirely made of pudding. Even though she was kinda used to her antics by now, she still managed to surprise her when the chaotic blonde was bored. The entire ordeal did net her 10 points for Ravenclaw from McGonagall for perfectly animating them, though. Well, after deducting the 20 she lost for 'disturbing the peace and quiet of the morn with a ridiculous example of magic.'.
Back to the note, he most likely wanted to discuss what the Headmaster had said to those diagnostics. 'Probably something like: At least she is safe from Death Eaters. She'll have to return anyways, to recharge those wards, you see.' She thought sardonically. Safe to say, she didn't get her hopes up.
Speaking of wards, Dumbledore told her about those when she pressed him on it after she killed Quirrelmort with that strange glow on her hands. She very nearly told him just how bad it was back then but her distrust for authority figures reared it's head and she refrained.
Impatiently shifting on her chair, she checked the time on multiple occasions, until Flitwick glanced at her.
"Am I that boring, Ms. Potter?"
He asked with genuine curiosity in his voice and she smiled at him apologetically. He was one of those professors who endeavoured to make even the most boring topics in the curriculum engaging. He didn't deserve her being all fidgety and distracted but she couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry Prof. Flitwick. It's just, I have an appointment later on and I'm getting a bit impatient. And while your explanations and demonstrations are anything but boring, I already know how to perform the Charm."
She shrugged her shoulders helplessly. His eyes alight, he quickly jumped out of enthusiasm on his precariously balanced seat, causing it to tilt a bit before it stabilised again.
"Truly? Would it be a bother to ask you to demonstrate for me?"
She still didn't like to be in the spotlight, but after being stared at as often as she was, she learned to deal with it. Her new attitude of discounting the opinion of most and concentrating on those who are actually important to her helped her ignore it most of the time. She nodded and flicked her wrist, Catching her wand in the perfect grip for a quick spell-chain out of habit before adjusting her hold slightly to fit the Summoning Charm better. She missed the speculative eyes of the former Duelling Champion when she steadily intoned.
"Accio Textbook."
She pushed her Intent to call for one specific book to be summoned into the spell and as expected, the specified Textbook hurtled at her with quite a bit of speed. She lightly flicked her wand when it came close and snatched the slowing book out of the air. It was silent in the room for a moment before the whispers started. Flitwick enthusiastically clapped his hands.
"Marvelous! Simply marvelous! Take 15 points for your advanced mastery of the Summoning Charm!"
She smiled a bit at his words. The diminutive Professor was one of her favourites and being praised by him sent a pleasant little thrill through her. Without thinking, she cast a careful Banisher to send the snatched book back to it's origin, causing the whispers to increase in intensity and Flitwick to break out in excited laughter.
"Take another 10 Points for fantastic control over the applied force through the Banishing Charm!"
She felt a slight heat rise on her face at her accidental boast of skill, but still smiled at him, even if it probably came out more as a grimace than anything else. She seriously listened for the rest of the lesson and quickly left the classroom after it was over, not giving anyone the chance to talk to her. Carefully, she slipped into an unused classroom, threw the Invisibility Cloak over herself and left the room again, only to search out another unused Classroom. It wasn't paranoia when people really were out to get you.
Safely hidden beneath her cloak, she whispered excitedly while holding the letter in her hands.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good..."
Line after line of text appeared on the parchment and the first ones already made her heart beat faster.
'Dearest Harriet.
Not even a day has gone by. Less than 24 hours, we haven't seen each other. And yet, I find myself missing you. I fear, I might be addicted to your presence. Oh, how I shiver in terror at the notion. Or is it excitement? Only time will tell.'
She felt her face heat up and she mused how he must have looked while writing this. Was he serious and concentrated, pulling on his Occlumency to keep himself from blushing? Was he self-conscious because Luna was looking at him with a teasing grin? Was he maybe imagining her reading those lines and wearing that infuriating smirk of his? She giggled silently, wondering about the difference in her mood. It was brighter than it had ever been.
She never really had the leisure to worry about such things before. Sure, she had fun with the few people she would have called friends before this fiasco, but there was always a shadow looming over her. A certainty that it wouldn't last, that she just wasn't made for this. To be happy and content. Now she knew that at least part of her near-permanent morosity was caused by a parasite that had latched onto her soul.
The lightness of her heart wasn't just caused by the relief of a burden however. The certainty that she wouldn't face her other tribulations alone played a major part too. She had steadfast people at her side. One of which, she was well and truly falling for. Having sidetracked herself enough, she continued to read.
'To rectify that, I'd like to meet you after today's lessons in our collective favourite spot. There are also certain topics to discuss and fabulous news to share. Please do fan the flames of your anticipation as I won't promulgate on those through parchment.'
She rolled her eyes with a grin at the intentionally flowery tone in the letter. He was having some fun at her cost. A smirk played on her lips as determination filled her eyes. Oh, she'd show him. There wasn't anything else written on the parchment but a beautiful sketching of a single pale pink rose surrounded by a sea of the flowers that gave her her middle name adorned the lower half of it. She let her fingers glide over the drawing and could almost feel the texture of the rosebuds.
'Hold on...' Bewildered, she felt her fingers sink into the drawing. Instinctively, she grasped gently and pulled her hand out of it, holding the rose in her hand. She blinked before smelling it and smiling softly.
"Such a romantic dork..."
She whispered and meant it in the best way possible.
~Luna Lovegood~
After another successful culling of the Nargles, she returned to the Room of Requirement on her usual route. Of course, her usual route wasn't the same every time. Rather, it was different enough to avert from the known path. Everyone knew that if one lingered too often on established roads with too much traffic, one risked being attacked by Bramble Trolls. She'd liked to avoid such a fate, thank you very much.
She should really send out a warning to those loyal readers of the Quibbler. Just in case they missed the last seven. Nodding her head decisively as she fell from the ceiling precisely in front of the painting, she observed Barnabas apply her teaching methods with satisfaction for a moment before skipping left and right in the hallway a couple of times. She liked to think random things while completing the minor ritual. It always led to delightfully unexpected results.
The rooms that appeared were always interesting, by her standards, when she did this. Of course she had to channel the intent, the burning need for the room to curb her boredom into it to make sure something appeared at all. Today, the entrance was black and moving in strange patterns that even she failed to find rhyme or reason in.
'Promising...' She thought to herself with an adventurous smirk on her lips before diving in headfirst. She landed in a kind of swamp, coating her things just quick enough in a wandless Imperturbable Charm to make sure they didn't get dirty. A quick Buoyancy Charm made her float atop of the swamp and she started paddling in a random direction.
She was glad she had worn her Adventurer's Kit today. The enchanted safari hat wouldn't ever leave her head as long as she didn't want it to and the enchanted butterbeer corks she fastened to it would protect her from Nargles. She even wore her dirigible plum earrings just in case. She thought herself open-minded enough but you never knew when you had to accept especially ridiculous things as the truth. She also had packed quite a few emergency rations into her bag, enchanted by Winston himself.
Darkness and shadows danced with the occasional rays of light, creating a unique and mysterious twilight as she observed her surroundings curiously. It was a peculiar sight, even for her. It was rare to see such an eerie setting as the room tended to try and keep it's inhabitants mentally well adjusted and darkness didn't lend itself for the task most of the time. Thusly, most settings were on the lighter side but she enjoyed the occasional trip through horribly cursed lands too. Just to keep things fresh and spicy.
She found herself in a swamp. That much was clear. But what had her decide to be careful, at least a bit, was the flora around here. The gnarly roots of near-black trees sank into the morass, somehow using the thick and sticky liquid to stabilise their precarious positions. They were nearly as stubborn as boneheaded Gnashkappers.
A large number of the plants she found were aligned with the dark such as the Bittersting and the Screaming Redbark, with whom she had a delightful shouting match before paddling along. Of course she didn't harvest any materials, knowing that if this was the territory of a strong Dark Fae, that could be a death sentence or worse. And while she wasn't necessarily scared of death, after all it would reunite her with her mother, she would leave behind too many people. She truly didn't want to be responsible for their pain. As such, she was determined to survive.
Suddenly, a chillingly dark giggle echoed through the surroundings, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She rather liked the tone and hummed an odd melody that synchronised well with the shiver-inducing sound of delight. Whoever had initiated it quickly broke it off, causing her to pout as she looked up into the canopy above her while swimming through the bog water. Backstroke wasn't her strongest discipline but it was enough to move through these waters comfortably.
Idly, she dispelled the nightmarish illusions that tried to influence her mind and continued on her way. Was it even a way? She couldn't call it a path or a road. But while those words could mean the same thing, they also usually had slightly differing definitions. If she could tread it, it was a way, she decided. She tried treading the water but she did move forward. Or was it backwards since she was using backstroke? Anyways, she was moving and treading water meant not doing that. 'It isn't a way, after all.' She was enlightened.
The illusions trying to ensnare her were getting more numerous and brutal. Suddenly, one of them caught her attention. Winston was lying there with his stomach opened, looking at her resentfully. 'It's all your fault...' Those eyes seemed to say. Her own visual orbs hardened. The usually pale and dreamy pupils of blue and silver glinted like recently sharpened steel. 'Right. It was a fun journey but this is where it ends.'
With a wave of her wand, she ripped apart not just the illusion but also the maze she was navigating. It was a delight for as long as it lasted but she had prey to catch and being led in a circle was rather counterintuitive for that. She ignored the surprised and distressed cry from the Dark Fae who had tried to mess with her mentality. She could stomach a lot but using the memories of her family and twisting them against her? That was... displeasing.
She cast several Triangulation and Divination Magicks and linked them to the signature that tried to latch onto her mind. Searching out the fleeing creature, she abandoned her plans for leisure exploration and pursued it relentlessly. Using long lost magic to bend space, she caught up with the elusive creature and trapped it just as it had tried to trap her.
Judging from her stature and the fear in her shining black eyes, she was a young noble fairy. While common fairies had little in the way of intelligence, their noble representatives counted among the more talented Fae in that regard. This particular one was dressed in a dark green dress that seemed to be skillfully woven from leafage and her long black hair had roots expertly worked into them.
Her wings, that eclipsed her body in size, were of a dark violet colour, glowing faintly from the inside and spreading purple fairy dust with every movement. They were adorned with intricate patterns that spoke of royal blood. Her long ears were drooping slightly, which was a sure-fire sign that her fear was real.
"Being cute won't help you."
Luna stated sternly with a matter-of-fact tone, trying to harden her heart. Only to immediately backpaddle at seeing those slightly too big eyes tear up.
"Well, maybe it will help you a little. But that was not nice, playing with the memories of my loved ones. You definitely need to be punished."
She observed the little girl carefully, being on guard in case she tried something, but she just shivered in terror, making Luna sigh. 'I can't seriously punish such a cutie. But she'll need to learn that some things are taboo.' She knelt down in front of her and addressed her even as she flinched when Luna started petting her head before she relaxed just slightly.
"Do you even understand my words, or do I have to use your language?"
She liked speaking Fae but it was a heavy strain on her vocal cords and since it was a tricky magical language, healing it had to happen through mundane means. With other magical languages that didn't really matter as one could simply research it until one found a spell or potion that helped. Fae in all it's iterations was different in the manner that it was just like it's origin race: Mischievous. What worked one time could possibly make the damage much worse the next time. The royal Fae shook her head frantically at her question.
"So you understand me?"
This time she nodded. Luna's desire to communicate seemed to calm her and she pointed at her mouth and shook her head. So she understood but couldn't speak it.
"Well then, I'll do the talking. Your punishment will be harsh. Severe. Downright inhumane. Once we leave here, you will not get any pudding for a month. At all. Not even potions flavoured like it. Now, you would want to ask: How could not getting something you didn't even know be a punishment?"
A manic gleam entered Luna's eyes as she started to rummage through her Expanded Bag. She pulled out an entire rack full of different jars filled with precious cargo. She then turned to the Fae with a truly horrifying lopsided smile as her eyes were alight with an odd glow that would terrify anyone who witnessed it.
"And here comes the inhuman part."
She continued in a sing-song voice that strangely echoed through the vicinity.
Before we leave, I will feed you samples of every pudding I have with me. All 87 kinds. And you will love each and every one of them."
The ominous statement made the Fae shiver. She thought to herself that maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't have tried to play mischief on this crazy witch.
~Winston Whittaker~
He was only mildly surprised when Luna suddenly dropped into the armchair besides him with a Royal Dusk Fairy on a sugar high in her lap. He sighed as he quickly threw out some specialised wards that would protect the sensitive parts of this version of the room for the day.
The way the fairy was twitching hinted at Luna forcing gallons of pudding down her throat. Ever since he perfected the Pudding Making Charm to perform at his standard, she used it nearly daily to expand her ever growing collection of the dessert.
The little Ravenclaw beamed at him with pure innocence. He snorted and gave her an unimpressed look. She pouted and cleared up what happened.
"I was on a beautiful expedition. Already, I was planning to search the entire area for the ever elusive oompa loompas to extort... To trade for their special recipe that is supposed to make chocolate pudding even more rich in taste. But then it happened. She made you glare at me with dead eyes and a gutted stomach. So I forced her to sample 87 different puddings!"
Well, that put things in perspective. He was honestly surprised she didn't go any further than that. She was a sweet and considerate girl usually, but if you brought her family into play, all bets were off. And she was terrifying. Her spell repertoire was expansive and her creative use of even the most common household charms could bring goosebumps to experienced duellers.
He once saw her use the Epilation Charm to specifically target the tiny hairs in the ear that were needed for the sense of balance and hearing. Not only was the pain unbearable, the fellow also had no sense of balance at all and a serious hearing impairment for several weeks while they used hair growth potion in very tiny doses to re-establish the natural order in his ears.
Family was sacred for her. And him for that matter. So he just nodded and gave the little creature a pat to the head while channeling a bit of magic into his hand. She stilled before melting and pushing her head to his hand, demanding more attention. His intimate connection to Fae Magicks was a trait of his personal magic by now. It would probably be inherited by his future children to a lesser degree but it wasn't anything to worry about at this moment.
"If you'll care for her then you'll have to make it clear. You probably already noticed, but she is very young and has no more relatives. She is alone in this world and I heavily sympathise with that as you know. Her vindictive streak should be a direct consequence of being left alone by each- and everyone."
She nodded seriously. She already decided then. Good. He addressed the slip of a Fae who had calmed down considerably after his magical infusion. He felt for those who lost everything. They hadn't personally brought this one in so she was probably pulled along by one of the other Fae and left alone afterwards. She didn't have anyone and the reason why he knew was that when he probed her magic just now, there were no bonds, no anchors.
Fairies were communal creatures. To stabilise their mentality, they needed to bond with their family. Otherwise, they grew more and more unhinged until falling into the abyss of true insanity. This counted doubly for nobles and royals. House elves and their cousins, the brownies, had a similar need for a bond. A solid connection to their 'master', especially if it was based on mutual respect, did wonders for their mentality. In addition to the magic necessary for their survival, of course.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the little girl's yawn. Now that the sugar high was fading, she clearly felt tired and he smiled gently at her.
"Don't worry about a thing. We will keep you safe. You can go to sleep."
He infused a bit of magic into his voice to ensure her of his honesty. It was way easier to convince those sensitive Fairies of your honesty than others. They had an instinctive grasp over magic that allowed them to read intent even easier than one would read a book. On the other hand, it was nearly impossible to deceive them as long as you infused magic into your voice. And without, they won't trust you at all.
She took in his words and tasted their magic before blinking slowly. With tired movements, she made herself at home in Luna's lap, wrapping her wings around herself. He threw a conjured blanket that dampened sound over her, with which she quickly cocooned herself, and let her sink into a restful slumber. That was the moment Harriet chose to enter the room. She had the rose he charmed into the parchment tucked behind her ear and smiled shyly at him with a light blush.
He stood closed the distance between them in several sedate steps, keeping his posture open and inviting. He greeted her with a gentle hug before pulling her along and idly asking the room to change his armchair into a loveseat. She addressed him first.
"Thank you for the rose. And the drawing. Your note kept my mood high the entire day."
She leaned into him when he hummed and pulled her to his side to kiss the top of her head. Verbal acknowledgement wasn't necessary as she relaxed and had the stress from another day of social isolation and unkind words muttered behind her back visibly drain out of her after she wound her arms around his torso and initiated a full hug that he reciprocated.
"The rose has a Permanency Charm woven into it. As long as you have it close to you, it'll use the magic passively radiating from you to keep itself fresh."
She glanced up at him with a blink and smiled. It was one of those little ones that held true meaning and made his heart beat just a tad faster. He leaned forward to kiss her nose before pulling back slightly. Sadly, it was time to start with the serious topics.
"Dumbledore read Luna's Diagnostics."
He murmured into her ear, feeling her tense up in his arms. She tried to relax again but a certain stiffness remained, understandably. He decided to not torture her needlessly.
"He accepts the blame. He thought the worst to happen would be a cold attitude and some unfair treatment compared to their own son. To not trigger their xenophobia, he stayed away and handed the task to watch over you to a squib he placed nearby. Arabella Figg is her name. He placed much trust into her reports that you are fine if a bit thin from all the chores. He calls his absence and the way he handled you one of his biggest regrets, and judging from the magical Aura he projected while reading the consequences of the Dursleys' care, I am inclined to believe him."
She bristled in his arms but he hugged her to his chest until she calmed down a bit and huffed.
"I can't even get properly angry while I'm close to you..."
There was a pout in her voice as she mumbled those words into his chest, causing him to laugh softly. It was adorable. He would make it up to her later by sparring with her. She loved a good battle without too much pressure.
"That's not all, you know? He guaranteed that he wouldn't press for your return to the Dursleys anymore. He either wants us to find an alternative or he would provide one."
She pushed herself away from his chest and stared into his eyes with incredulity and bright hope shining within them. He could feel her trembling from where she pressed her flat palms against his chest to stabilise herself.
"This better not be a prank or I'll hunt you down. And him."
Her voice was tremulous but there was joy hidden below a maelstrom of emotions. She knew he wouldn't ever joke about something like this but she had to throw out a threat to somehow deal with the overflowing amalgamation of sensations that threatened to overwhelm her.
Slowly, he pulled her in again, allowing her to be weak for once. A breakdown over years upon years of abuse finally ending. She didn't cry loudly this time either, but at least her sobs were audible. She was mourning a lost childhood, shedding tears for the injustice that happened to her, and cleansing herself for a hopeful future.
Only a supreme effort of will managed to keep a lid on his temper and magic but the rage bubbled just beneath the surface. All around the British isles, there were little pocket dimensions that he established in his free time and during expeditions with the Lovegoods.
They had a similar use as the Room of Requirement for those creatures that didn't want to or couldn't leave their surroundings. He was sure one or two of those close to Surrey had some more vindictive inhabitants. Until he had the time to... visit them personally, that would have to do. Reassuring Harriet had priority in this moment, though.
"I would never joke about something like this."
He whispered lowly to her when she calmed down a bit.
"I know..."
Came the tremulous answer. She didn't emerge from his embrace for a long time and he gladly accommodated her. A good cry oftentimes helped the healing process far better than just swallowing everything. She didn't like to express her emotions, to show weakness like this. But she was getting better at talking about how she felt. Communication was important to process trauma and by allowing them to observe her in such a state, she disclosed her immense trust in them.
He knew she valued them. She wouldn't have been so open about her secrets like the map and the cloak if she didn't. She even told them about Sirius, which he still had to discuss with the old man. Still, he felt honoured that she allowed herself to be vulnerable in their presence. To let those pretenses fall and show how much this affected her.
"Thank you for the trust you bestowed upon us. I will make every effort to ensure we are worthy of it."
Luna nodded seriously while combing her fingers through the little fairy's hair, even though Harriet couldn't possibly see it. She giggled wetly before she answered.
"You two are already doing that daily, you dork. Honestly, I'm so lucky. I got myself two Emotional Support Ravenclaws for the price of one."
He smiled at her and the undertones of that particular expression seemed to send a shiver through her. The tone he used was measured and held a promise he couldn't even identify himself.
"Oh, and what price may that be, my dear? How exactly do you plan to pay for our services?"
She shrugged, her posture a bit unsure and the glasses had slipped down her nose a bit. Her eyes were red from crying, which contrasted their intense emerald colouration. Those details in combination with her slightly rumpled robes caused her to look cuter than ever. He abandoned the attempted tease to pull her into his arms again. That girl was entirely too adorable.
"Ah, my innocent little lioness. Tell you what. As long as we continue to be your emotional pillars, you'll continue to grace us with your delightful presence. Deal?"
She nodded with a light laugh before temporarily changing the topic. Her eyes focused on the newest project of Luna.
"And who's the little one?"
He thought shortly about the question. They didn't even know if she had a name. They hadn't asked since it wasn't a priority to learn it and Fae were peculiar with their names. Names had power and that counted doubly so for Fae. Even the young ones weren't so naive to just hand their name over.
"Honestly, we don't know who she is. We know her race and that she was all alone. We know that she needs bonds to keep her sanity intact but has none. We know that she needs help before it's too late. That means Luna will take her in. She already did the same thing for some others. Even a chivalrous Redbark-Treant lives in her backyard ever since she nursed him back to health. Those fellows are usually lone 'wolves' but this one decided to stand vigil over her home for as long as necessary to repay her lifesaving grace."
Luna, who had listened in, was glaring at him half-heartedly with a slight blush. He could understand why. She tried to get him to leave several times already, telling him she didn't do it for a reward or because she was expecting him to pay her back, but the stubborn thing was as obstinate as any tree.
Harriet giggled a bit at her expression before searching his eyes. It seemed she was ready to talk about the topic that was truly burning on her soul.
"Do you think he was honest with you?"
She asked and he was glad that he could answer this question affirmatively with full confidence. The ritual to ensure that no lies spoken to him would remain undetected had served him well. He could very nearly guarantee that Dumbledore's words were truthful.
She still seemed a bit doubtful but that was understandable. Gently, he told her.
"I understand. I truly do. It would feel more meaningful if your suffering was caused by an evil plot to subjugate you. It is hard to register that everything you had to go through was caused not by an intentional arrangement but simple bad decisions. Old age got to him and he is spread far too thin. Every office he holds takes up a substantial amount of time. I wouldn't go as far as to say that all three are full-time jobs, but they do demand a lot of him."
She clutched at him tightly, clearly frustrated at his words. An explosive sigh left her mouth as she slowly relaxed.
"I want to leave it all behind me but I have a feeling that it won't be that easy. I'll probably always have some demons of the past hound me. I won't ever be able to fully trust the old man. If he could make such mistakes once, he can make them again."
He didn't trust Dumbledore's judgment either so there wasn't any objection from him on that topic. If someone's life decisions were so unhinged that from the outside, they could be construed as the schemes of a machiavellian villain, then this person should really do some soul-searching.
Harriet giggled when he shared that thought with her. He sent a quick thank you to Luna over her head. He knew how hard it was for the eccentric girl to stay silent for so long. She waved him off and pointed at the fairy in her lap with a slight headtilt. He thought for a moment before making a silent request to the room.
A new section was added. Aesthetically, it seemed to be the inside of a hollow tree and sunlike light shone through the natural openings onto the mossy bed below. The scene was truly picturesque and seemed to fit seamlessly into a fairy tale. Luna's eyes lit up and she gently lifted the tiny being. Her soft and gliding steps seemed especially elegant and fairy-like in that moment.
Turning his attention to the witch in his lap, he smiled when he noticed her staring at his face from below. Embarrassed at being caught, she averted her eyes but softly caught her chin and stopped the movement to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Well, I guess it's time for a good ol' sparring match."
He told her and she forgot her embarrassment immediately. Jumping from his lap, she stormed off to the arena.
"Come on! What are you waiting for?!"
She called over and he couldn't help but release a chuckle. Ever since he introduced her to the rules of the duelling circuit, she was obsessed. She had talent in the field and she was a hard worker. If she desired a career as duelist, he'd do his best to train her up for it. He was a fair hand in the discipline but it wasn't his specialty. Too many rules. The conduct was way too stiff for his tastes.
But she did better within a set of restrictions. She was creative enough to work around them. He was too, but he'd rather work without them in the first place. He would train her for a true battlefield too, but if she wanted to pick dueling as a passion to pursue, who was he to try and dissuade her? Many skills that she'd need for either cause would overlap anyways.
Leisurely, he made his way into the arena under her impatient eyes.
"Patience, young padawan. Much to learn, you still have. Mhmmm."
He nodded sagely and was rewarded for his perfect impression with a quick spell-chain consisting of a Stunner, a Banisher, two quick Stunners in succession to zone him and a Disarmer.
He sidestepped the first stunner, shielded the Banisher and reflected one of the Stunners into the other one, causing it to ping against the Disarmer. She pouted but kept moving while keeping up the spellfire to try and interrupt any plans he was making. She was using low-power spells to preserve her energy for later. This came at the cost of physical stamina since she shielded only in the direst of circumstances.
Soon, they were immersed in a deadly dance as eldritch spellfire lit up the surroundings. They splashed uselessly against shields and other surfaces, sometimes causing strange and unpredictable phenomena. She was keeping up but was thoroughly on the back foot. He smiled in a predatory manner and upped the pace.
He tested her reflexes, footwork, and instincts with increasingly quick silent spells. His fire-rate and power-usage rose steadily until she was close to being overwhelmed, all the while dodging and shielding any of her counterattacks impeccably. Under pressure, she performed admirably. Slowly, she honed her dodges subconsciously, using less energy for the movements. Her casting speed also became visibly faster as she used less movements to perform spells but kept their performance at the same level.
His smile softened slightly as he watched her exceed her former self. She was in the zone. All her acts were led by her subconscious as she simply didn't have the time to think. And if she was a genius at one single thing, it was split second decisions. The fact that she kept up this far with her limited spell repertoire spoke volumes.
Stealthily, he transfigured part of the ground to quicksand and zoned her into it. As soon as she felt her foot sink, she immediately threw a Bombarda at the ground in front of her, using the dust to obscure his sight and the shockwave to escape the sand's grasp. A sigh of appreciation left his lips and his smile widened as he used his magic to perceive what was hidden from his eyes.
He decided to not grant her any reprieve. With a modified Ventus, he formed a small tornado that picked up the sand, which was quickly transfigured into sharp blades. 'She should be able to survive, right?' He thought to himself as he fed some more magic into the tornado to cover more ground.
She was panicking a bit, but managed her first wide-range Transfiguration under pressure. The now relatively harmless rubber balls still pelted her as the wind fought to pull her into the storm, but at least she wasn't being cut up. Just thoroughly bruised.
He stopped feeding the storm and only kept it running with some intent in the back of his mind while working on the next piece of magic. He mirrored his form with a Mirage Charm in exactly the same moment he cast a perfected Disillusionment Charm on himself. While invisible, he cast an array of magic that diminished his presence even further before circling around to fall into her back.
His mirror image acted as if it was still keeping up the storm and Harriet finally managed to stabilise herself by forcefully dashing towards the storm's eye. She was ready to cast again but suddenly, the hairs on her neck rose and she whirled around only to stop her movement when she felt a slightly warm wooden object dig into the side of her throat.
"I give..."
She breathed out unwillingly and with a clear pout in her voice.
"From behind there, you could have ended me in a myriad of ways. Why didn't you simply stun me or something like that? And was that move with the blades in an honest to Morgana hurricane even legal?"
She asked curiously and slightly exasperated for the second question, only to be pulled into his arms. He held her for a moment, letting his magic radiate with the intent to soothe her bruises, before letting her go and turning her around. His eyes were filled with pride.
He ignored her first question, much to her displeasure. Honestly, the way he ended their duel was just a flight of whimsy. He could have ended it in a plethora of ways but this led to being able to pull her into a hug with the least amount of effort. She was sure to be a bit rankled if he told her that, though.
"The Hurricane was legal. Sorta. Possibly lethal approaches are limited to masterclass duels as if you qualified for those, you usually were able to deal with it. And you did fabulously in handling it. You could have done better, but your repertoire isn't yet broad enough to do so. With that answered, there is only one thing left to say."
The desire to praise her was more prevalent than the need to explain himself. It was a physical necessity. She came so far in the short amount of time he trained her. She nearly mastered silent casting, had a good headway into movement omission and was chaining spells together better than most intermediate duelists. Not to mention that her instincts were top notch. If her reaction had been a dive instead of whirling around at sensing danger, she could have prolonged this duel by several minutes. They'd have to work on her responses but the basics were there. He put all those thoughts into two meaningful words.
"Well done."
She beamed back at him with rosy cheeks. If her colour came from the compliment or the exertion was anyone's guess. Slightly out of breath and sweaty as she was, she asked a loaded question.
"So am I ready for the first task? I'll just try and summon the egg and when it fails, I'll forfeit. But as you said, I'll have to be ready in case things inevitably go sideways and I fully agree with that. Kinda have some experience in that regard anyways. It'll be a novelty to be actually prepared for a change."
She grumbled the latter part but she wasn't exactly wrong. The opposite, really. She didn't like to be patronised understandably, so he decided to answer honestly.
"Getting you ready for an encounter with a Dragon, a nesting Mother at that, in such a short amount of time was never really going to happen. But I trust that you'll be able to stay alive until the adults get everything under control again. If things go pear-shaped."
She nodded pensively with slight disbelief in her eyes at the mere notion that adults could get any precarious situation under control before correcting him with a slightly grumpy tone of voice.
"When. Not if, when."
He nodded and had to suppress a laugh. He didn't manage to push down the smile that had a helpless tinge to it, though. Determined to not let this get the mood down, he made her an offer she couldn't refuse after hitting both of them with a comprehensive Cleaning Charm. It didn't replace a good shower or a relaxing soak in the tub, but for the moment it would do.
"Cuddles, snacks, and some light reading?"
As always when he offered himself up as a living heater, she lit up and called over her shoulder after she already started running.
"Race ya!"
He smiled at her childish exuberance, happy that she felt safe enough to give in to those impulses, before casting an Invertigo Hex after her, making her run in the wrong direction while he strolled leisurely to their favourite seat.
By the time she dispelled the Hex, he was sitting there with a book in hand. The smile widened when he heard her cry out.
"Hey! No fair!"
Except for all those worries like the loose psychopaths, murderers and racists out there, life was good. And if his plans went through, they'd soon be much less of a problem.