The morning began rather awkwardly for Azula and Harry, having fallen asleep together. Thankfully for them, only Luna seemed to know, though how that was, neither wanted an answer. That being said, neither of them cared, still trying to form a concrete answer as to what they were experiencing in the first place. At least they were due to land today. That would help things.

Harry stood on the deck by the railing, watching as the land came closer. He would be very happy to have dry land under his feet if only to give him and Azula some space if that was what they needed.

What the Hell was he thinking? He'd only physically met Azula last week, and here he was thinking like a man on the precipice of proposal.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by Ron's appearance beside him, "Tide'll be a pain in the arse getting into port. It's almost… unnatural." he remarked.

Harry looked at his longtime friend, "Waterbenders? This far out?" he asked, eyes darting across the shoreline.

Ron shrugged, "I don't know. You're right, it is unusual for them to be this far from the Poles, as far as we know."

"That Azula's told us." Harry countered.

Ron just continued as if Harry hadn't spoken, "But I can't shake the feeling that any other time, any other ship, any other crew wouldn't be facing these tides."

Harry simply shut his eyes, hating the connotations of the Fates playing with them. Before either of them could continue their conversation, Azula joined them and took notice of Harry's expression, "What's got you on edge? We're due to make landfall in a little over an hour."

Harry just gestured to Ron, who reiterated his concerns. Azula, in contrast to Harry, looked thoughtful, "My uncle has a philosophy, that we are in control of our destiny, though the Spirits may aid or hinder as they feel fit." she remarked, "So considering Admiral Zhao was slain after he murdered the physical form of the Moon Spirit, perhaps the Ocean Spirit is making her displeasure known."

Ron hummed, and then he left for the bridge, wanting to get a feel for how a ship operated in case it ever came up. This left Azula and Harry together by the railing, watching the waves crash against the side of the ship. However, while the silence was a familiar and accepted companion for the both of them, Azula broke it after she was certain there was no one in hearing range of them, "Despite your friend's assertion, you seem calmer than I've ever felt through whatever bond connects us." she remarked.

Harry's lips twitched, "I could say the same for you." he replied before glancing at her, "So the key to us being at our best is to share a bed?"

Azula rolled her eyes, though there was a look of fondness to them, "Honestly Harry, it helps that we've been talking to each other for so many years."

Harry chuckled, "It's the only reason I'm exuding any confidence." he countered, "Remember when I told you about the Yule Ball?"

Azula chuckled and shook her head, "I'm shocked that you took none of my suggestions, and as such, I wasn't that surprised when you told me how bad it went."

Harry hummed and rested his arms against the railing, Azula copying his actions. They contented themselves just watching the sea for the time. It was peaceful, perhaps the most peaceful the day would be.

Harry looked around at their surroundings, it was rather luxurious, even by the standards he had after living in a castle nine months of the year for five years. "And we're sure that Prince Zuko and Prince Iroh are here?" he asked Azula, "If I had been them, I would have moved on by now."

Azula looked at him with a look of confidence, "You forget, Uncle Iroh has like forty or more years on the both of us. He'll appreciate this place and want to stay as long as possible. It isn't like he was the one banished."

Harry hummed and followed Azula. Though they only took a few steps before Azula looked at Ron and Luna, "Enjoy yourselves, Harry and I can handle this. Just tell the proprietors you're with me and they'll take care of the rest."

Ron looked bewildered, but Luna dragged him off, eager to experience what passed off as pampering by the standards of the Fire Nation. "Shout if you need us!" she called.

Harry smiled slightly at the sight before glancing at Azula, who was wearing a similar expression, "Thank you, Luna especially deserves some pampering."

At that, Azula's expression drooped a little, "From what you told me, it sounds like we should spend a few months here to make up for things." she remarked. Harry agreed with her, but Azula shook her head, "We'll find Uncle and ZuZu, convince them to join us, and then we can experience some pampering for ourselves." she said before raising a hand when Harry made to object, "You deserve it as much as Luna and, I swear to Agni, you are going to be pampered."

Harry snapped his mouth shut before grinning mischievously, "As My Princess commands. Is there anything else I should plan for tonight?"

This time, Azula's expression took a turn for mischief, an expression that no one would have ever seen on her face before, "Dinner. At least." she whispered in his ear, a shiver running down his spine and the touch of her breath so close to him.

"I hope the rooms are either soundproof or spaced out," Harry remarked. "I doubt we want questions in the morning."

This time, Azula's expression turned into something that Harry did not recognise, "I can assure you: Discretion is prized here. We could be very public here and not a word of it would leave."

Harry's eyes glazed for a second before Azula halting drew him from his hormones. "Here we are. You ready to meet them?" she asked.

Harry grew a half grin, "Meeting the in-laws? Never."

Azula bit her lip, but her eyes betrayed her mirth. But she pushed open the door without another comment. Following her, Harry quickly noticed the pair of occupants sat on the floor around a table of seashells, though Azula spoke first, "Uncle, brother, it's good to see you still in one piece."

Prince Zuko shot to his feet, almost like an animal ready to pounce. "What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

Azula rolled her eyes and sat down beside Iroh and across from Zuko, "Do relax ZuZu, I'm not here to fight." she said while picking up one of the shells.

Zuko grew only angrier, "Don't call me that!" he shouted.

Iroh, on the other hand, calmly regarded them, "Prince Zuko! Do not be too hasty." he barked before returning his gaze to Harry, "I do not believe I remember you, though it has been years since I've been in the Nation. Who are you?"

Azula answered while Harry bowed his head, "This is Harry, we met a while ago when he helped me with a problem back home."

"Your Highnesses." Harry greeted.

Iroh nodded to Harry while Zuko ignored him, keeping his attention on Azula. "So, what bring you here my niece? Though I would believe it if you were here for the spa."

Azula smiled, "I will be taking advantage of that after we are done here." she remarked before sighing, "I was given a mission by Father and it affects both of you." she said.

Iroh stroked his beard, he had a suspicion but wanted to hear it from Azula's mouth. Zuko, on the other hand, jumped to conclusions. "Is Father letting us come home, even without the Avatar?" he asked hopefully.

Azula looked sadly at him, "Oh Zuko, in a sense, yes." she said, "Father wants for you both to come home as prisoners. I have no idea why, but the reasoning he gave the Council must have been convincing enough for them to order the arrest of the Dragon of the West and the Crown Prince."

Zuko growled, "You lie! Father wouldn't do such a thing!"

Azula slumped her shoulders, "I'm not convinced that he wouldn't siphon our bending power if there was a way to do that." she sighed.

Zuko was unrepentant though, "Impossible! It's my destiny to capture the Avatar!"

Harry chose to enter the debate, "Destiny is what you make of it. It is not what another might force onto you."

Iroh looked at Harry with a mixture of surprise and pride. It was very similar to what he always tried to tell Zuko. However, perhaps because it was so similar to what Iroh tried to impart onto him, Zuko's rage boiled over and with a shout and jump, he leapt over the table and brought his dao against Harry. While Harry had been expecting conflict with Zuko, he hadn't expected it to devolve into combat so quickly, and melee combat especially. As such, the slash across his face garnered a flinch and a burst of flame which was easily deflected, but no real defence. Even then, the flinch was much-subdued thanks in no small part to the years of care at the hands of the Dursleys.

The room melted away for Azula, she couldn't believe what she just witnessed. One minute, she was sitting at a table with Uncle Iroh while Zuko and Harry were standing, the next, blood was coating the floorboards as Harry grasped at his right eye and was screaming in pain. She didn't even see Zuko running out of the room, or Iroh following her to Harry's side, she just focused on Harry.

The next few minutes were a blur for the two of them, but Azula eventually found herself sitting beside an unconscious Harry's bed, gripping his hand as if he would disappear if she let go. So focused on Harry was she that she missed her uncle taking a seat beside her, "He's a special one, isn't he?" he quietly asked.

Azula wetly chuckled, "More than you could possibly guess." she whispered back.

Iroh, naturally, had his suspicions. He distinctly remembered hearing of Princess Azula's propensity to claim that she would speak to someone in her sleep when she was younger. His brother thought that he had conditioned her out of it, but now… shaking his head, he redirected things, "I'm reliably told that they have every confidence in young Harry's recovery, the matter of sight is entirely different, however."

Azula tried to wipe her tears from her eyes, she knew when she saw the deep gash over his eye that he had more than likely lost all sight in it. She still didn't understand the black goo that was mixed with his blood but was assured more than once that the local healers were certain that they got rid of it from his bloodstream and would suffer no ill effects from it. She then looked at Iroh, "I'm surprised you didn't follow Zuko wherever he went. You've stuck by his side for the last three years."

Iroh grimaced, "It is time for the most painful lesson I can impart onto Prince Zuko: I will not always be there. Though I will be watching."

Azula stayed quiet for a moment, then she turned back to Harry, "You know that his friends will want vengeance." she remarked before hardening her expression, "To say nothing of what I desire to put him through."

Iroh hummed, "I know, but I will hold out hope that you all will indulge an old man and first try to help him see the way before you resort to violence."

"And if that is impossible for Zuko?" She asked, curious.

Iroh's expression turned to steel, "Then I will do what I must. I will not ask it of any other. This is my mistake, my failure. I will correct it."

For that brief moment, Azula could hear the voice of the Dragon of the West, the terror of the Earth Kingdom with an obsession for tea. It brought her comfort, much to her surprise. However, she put it to the side as she turned her gaze back to Harry.

Harry wasn't sure where he was. Unconsciousness, that much he was certain of. It was very similar to the mindscape that he and Azula used in the evening, but he could feel another presence. Not only that, there were images being shown. "I don't know, James." a childlike version of Azula said to a younger version of himself as they lay beneath a peach tree in a garden of some kind, "These Dursleys are awful people, surely someone would notice!"

He saw his child version shake his head, "I doubt that nobody notices. Which means that they choose to pretend they don't."

Harry frowned, this was a conversation that he and Azula had many years ago. Why was he seeing this again? And why were there images? Normally their mindscape just gave them feelings. "You would be correct, Harry." an unfamiliar, yet familiar feminine voice said. "Your mindscape does only project feelings. Or at least, it used to."

Harry spun around, a chill shooting down his spine, "Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded.

The voice chuckled, "Relax Harry," it said, "I am rather invested in your well-being and wouldn't dream of hurting you."

Harry huffed, "I've heard that for many years, with nought to show for it. Excuse me if I don't believe you." he retorted.

"So, the adults are idiots and wilfully neglect their responsibilities." the child Azula continued, "Why I ought to!"

The youthful Harry wrapped his arms around Azula, "That you care is enough to see me through this. One day, I'll get away from this. Then I'll see what can be done about meeting each other."

The children didn't say anything after that, Harry recalling that they didn't say anything afterwards back then, but then he was surprised to see the children play. "You would have seen this, had that shard of Riddle not impeded your connection to the Princess." the voice said, "I could, on the other hand, and I always found the two of you absolutely adorable. Even so young, your love for each other was clear to see."

Harry barely understood a lick of what it said, but he found himself opening his eye and groaning, against his desire to continue watching. That was enough to rouse Iroh and Azula, who had been napping at the late hour by his bedside. "How are you feeling Harry?" Azula asked.

Harry took stock of himself and came to a surprising conclusion, "Like someone has just released me from a choke-hold and now I can finally breathe. What happened?"

Iroh looked confused and concerned at Harry's explanation, but Azula just looked relieved that he was awake. "Do you remember Zuko attacking you?" she asked, drawing a nod from him, "Zuko left a deep gash over your eye and so Uncle and I brought you to the healers to get it tended," she revealed.

Harry hummed, it made sense, though a question bubbled to the fore of his mind, "What do Luna and Ron know?"

Azula sighed, but Iroh answered, "I assume you mean the blonde girl and the red-headed boy who came in here about ten minutes after we brought you here?"

Harry smirked, "Sounds like them, probably said something about this being a regular occurrence?"

Iroh looked at him in amusement, "You know your friends well." he mused before leaning back, "And they know everything we know. Ron went out with some of the residents to see if he could find Prince Zuko."

Harry nodded before furrowing his brow, "And Luna?"

Azula looked at the foot of the bed, "Curled in a ball at the foot of the bed. Neither Uncle or I have the heart to wake her since she was very upset at what happened."

As if those were the magic words, Luna jumped up, darting her head around until she laid eyes on Harry. Iroh rushed to her side to steady her as she swayed on her feet, but she made her way, with assistance, to Harry's good side. There, she stood, eyes brimming with tears unshed, before she finally collapsed by his side, burying her head in his torso, letting the tears flow. It took Harry a moment before he finally deciphered the words she was repeatedly mumbling: "You swore…" This confused Azula and Iroh, close enough to hear for themselves, but Harry grew white and began rubbing Luna's back. His mind, however, was flung back some time.

It had been a particularly difficult session of the DA, not magically difficult or technically difficult, but physically difficult. Harry had thrown himself into teaching the DA with a fervour, but today, with less than a month before OWLs and with Umbridge breathing down their necks, he was especially difficult on himself. "I know that they say that sweat saves blood, but you are being too hard on yourself Harry Potter." a voice from beside him said.

Harry looked to the owner of the voice with a dead expression, "I do not want any more deaths on my hands Luna. You know this."

Luna joined him sitting on the floor of the Room of Requirement. "I know that you blame yourself for the faults of the Headmaster, the DMLE, and everyone involved in that farce they called a "tournament" last year." she countered, "I also know that you will throw yourself in front of any danger that threatens anyone close to you."

Harry drily chuckled, "Hermione says I have a "saving people" thing."

Luna looked at him with the most serious look she had ever given, gone were any traces of "loony" and instead, sitting beside him, she appeared as familiar with Death as he was. "Swear to me, Harry, Swear to me that you will not risk your life unduly."

Harry's lips twitched, "Do I have leave to risk myself if you or the others are in danger?" he asked, drawing a serious nod from her, "Alright. I swear I will do my utmost to avoid risking myself unduly."

In theory, he had broken that oath when he rushed through the Veil of Death back in the Ministry during the Battle there, when Sirius fell through. But seeing as though Hermione, Remus, Luna and Ron had done the same, and it brought them here, Luna had dropped the matter. "There, there Luna." he finally whispered, "I'm alright. Or at least, as alright as I can be."

Luna sniffled, "And I will hold Her Highness responsible for ensuring that remains true from henceforth." she replied, drawing surprise from both Iroh and Azula. "But that is neither here nor there now. Please refrain from pushing yourself, else I'll have to do something drastic."

Harry raised his eyebrow as Luna raised her head, "I'm curious," he remarked, "What do you consider appropriate drastic action?"

Luna smirked, "Declaring myself, magically in any case, to be your sister, for one." she remarked, drawing a look from Iroh. "Conspiring with willing participants to send your and Her Highness back to Caldera, for another. But enough of that talk. How do you feel?"

Harry skipped over the fact that Luna had, potentially, revealed the existence of magic, even if it was different in this world. Instead, he shook his head with a smile on his face, "Well, apart from wanting myself a sister and that being more in reach than ever before? Surprisingly better than ever. Don't know why."

Luna hummed, she had her own theories but held her tongue for now. Instead, she released Harry before settling into a seat and going back to sleep. Iroh looked partially amused and partly confused at the interaction, "You keep unique companions, don't you young Harry?"

Harry snorted, "You should meet my Godfather. He's the very definition of a "man-child"." he replied before yawning.

Azula gently squeezed his hand, "Rest, Harry. I'll be here when you wake up."

Harry's lips twitched as he shut his good eye, "Night, Zula…" he murmured before drifting back into unconsciousness, this time, consciously.

Azula smiled slightly, but her eyes drooping sent her towards that same unconsciousness. Uncle Iroh simply smiled and stood up, "Rest my niece. I shall meet with young Ron and see what he has learned." he suggested, "Hopefully, we will be able to move on in the morning."

Azula nodded and surrendered to the exhaustion that plagued her. As she slowly entered the land of nod, she felt a degree of excitement, something she had been feeling ever since she and Harry had met face to face.

When she arrived in their mindscape, she immediately noticed something different: she seemed to have a body in this realm. Then she felt a pair of arms wrap around her, "Hello Azula. Like our new abilities?"