On a small farm in the heart of the forest, a new day dawned. Harry was already out in the fields, having risen before Ru, diligently tending to his work while accompanied by a pack of wolves.
The sun slowly rose over the treetops, casting a warm golden glow across the tranquil landscape. The crisp morning air filled his lungs as he moved swiftly through the rows of crops, checking for any signs of pests or disease.
The wolves roamed nearby, their presence a comforting and familiar sight. Harry paused for a moment to admire the beauty of the sunrise, the colors reflecting off the dew-covered leaves and painting the world in a soft, ethereal light.
He smiled to himself, feeling grateful for another day of peace and harmony on the farm. The howls of the wolves blended with the rustling of leaves in the wind, creating a symphony that seemed to echo through the entire forest.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, he began to plow the field, the rich scent of the earth rising up as the plow turned the soil. The rhythmic sounds of his steps and the wolves' padding feet merged into a harmonious melody. Spiders were observing from their bridges above him.
As he worked, Harry's mind wandered, thinking about how content he was in his new life. He built something for himself, made new friends in the form of animals, and even gained a fiancee.
For the first time in his life, he felt truly at peace, not being hunted by a dark lord or being led by the empty promises of the headmaster. Without any expectations of his classmates to save them when there is a crisis, just so they could once again scorn him when not needed.
Harry worked without noticing the flow of time. As he was finishing with this field, he heard a soft footstep approaching from behind him.
He placed his hoe on his shoulder and turned in the direction of the sound, only to see Ru standing there with a gentle smile on her face.
"Good morning," she said.
"Morning, Ru," Harry replied with a warm smile.
The peaceful atmosphere was accompanied by the tender morning light filtering through the leaves, creating a serene setting around them.
Harry, getting a closer look at the vampire, noticed that Ru was smaller than she was the day before. "Ah, did you get small again?" he asked.
"It's for my own protection," said Ru, with a blush on her cheeks. "You won't think about touching me as long as I look like this, right?"
Harry chuckled awkwardly. "I won't touch you without your permission; you don't have to worry about it."
After a brief moment of uncomfortable silence, Ru began to speak again. "What are you planting now?" asked curious Ru, coming closer to get a better look.
"I'm planting some sweet potatoes." Harry answered, gesturing towards the rows he had just finished.
"Oh?" tilted her head, Ru in question.
Seeing the vampire eyes sparkling with curiosity, he began to explain what type of dishes he planned to cook from them when they would grow.
The warm sun embraced them as they continued their conversation, the gentle rustling of leaves providing a soothing background to their exchange. Ru listened intently, her eyes filled with hunger at the thought of the new dishes that she would savor. As Harry elaborated on the various recipes, a sense of excitement grew within Ru.
If dinner from the day before was any indication, the new dishes that she would taste were sure to be delicious and satisfying.
Harry, noticing Ru's growing enthusiasm, couldn't help but feel a sense of joy at the prospect of sharing his creations with her. It seemed that he truly enjoyed cooking for others who appreciated his work. The Dursleys always thought of it as a granted and never even said a simple thank you to him.
"They're also easy to preserve, and with more people living here, they would be perfect for preparing meals in larger portions." Harry added, looking pleased at the idea. "That's right," realized Harry, "you're the first person to move here. That makes you the first villager here."
"What do you mean?" asked Ru, looking up at him. "This is a village?"
"Well, it's hardly a village with only the two of us," said Harry while scratching the back of his head. "But maybe in the future it will grow."
Alice barked to gain their attention.
"Ah yes," said Harry, looking at his wolf guys were living here first, weren't you? "Then there are Shelob and her children. So that would make Ru about the 50th villager, I think."
"What kind of title is that?" Ru laughed. "Does it even matter at that point?"
"You know... maybe it doesn't matter," Harry chuckled, "but it sure sounds official, doesn't it? Maybe we should organize a welcome party for our 50th villager."
"You already prepared a wonderful dinner yesterday," Ru said with a smile lighting up her face. "But I wanted to ask for something."
"What is it?" he said, intrigued.
Ru smiled, her sharp fangs showing in the sunlight. "I was wondering if it was possible to plant a few medical herbs for my own research."
"Sure, I don't see why not." Harry nodded with a grin, showing his agreement. "You will need to describe to me the herbs that you need. Let's go and try it."
"Yeah," said Ru, eager to start her research again. "We'll have to find some way to get our hands on the right seeds."
"We don't actually need any seeds," chuckled Harry.
"Eh? Why not?" questioned Ru.
"Let me show you," said Harry, and he started to lead her in the direction of the empty field.
Ru followed Harry to the empty field with curiosity bubbling up inside her. As they walked, Ru's excitement grew with every step they took. She couldn't wait to see what Harry had in mind.
The sun was warm on their backs, casting a golden glow all around them as they approached the untouched plot of land. Harry turned to Ru with a twinkle in his eye and began to explain how they could cultivate the herbs she needed without the use of seeds. Ru listened intently, absorbing every detail with eagerness.
Next, she showed him the herbs she needed for her magical project on her tablet. Harry leaned in for a closer look, and after getting to know what herbs she needed, he began planting them.
They spent the entire afternoon together working on the field, their laughter blending harmoniously with the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
The hours passed swiftly, marked by shared stories and a growing bond between them. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the field, they admired their work with a sense of satisfaction.
Ru turned to Harry, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you for this, Harry," she said softly. "It means a lot to me."
Harry simply smiled, his eyes reflecting the warmth of the setting sun. "I'm glad I could help," he replied.
—-xXx—-
The next few days on the farm were spent by them harvesting already-grown crops. At first, Ru was opposed to helping with rooted crops, not wanting to dirty herself with them, but after three days, she didn't complain anymore.
Spiders helped with the harvest as well, with the exception of the rooted crops that they couldn't easily collect with their web.
Thanks to the help of both spiders and Ru, the harvest became quicker for Harry, even with the expanded fields, so he was beginning to think about expanding them once more. After all, there were now more mouths to feed on the farm, and they would need as much as possible when the winter eventually came.
In the meantime, he built another small building that would be Ru's laboratory. It was an alternate build of the storehouse with added windows and a few holes in the roof for ventilation of fumes that would be generated in potion making.
It was also a little larger than storehouses, being planned as a square with a side length of 8 meters. Thanks to it taking up more space, he needed to place an additional four small columns inside to support a rooftop so it wouldn't collapse by itself or because of gathering snow in the winter.
Harry transfigured the floor of the laboratory into solid stone to make sure it was more resistant to spills and accidents that often occur during potion making.
Ru meticulously planned out the layout of her laboratory, ensuring it was functional for her needs. Harry built shelves that he stacked around the room for both books and potion ingredients.
For now, he placed a few basic potion ingredients on the shelves, such as asphodel, powdered moonstone, and dittany. Dried herbs hang from the ceiling beams for easy access during brewing processes.
He placed a large work desk on the wall opposite the door. Ru could use this desk to make her own notes or prepare the potion's ingredients. This work desk was found in Slytherin's portion of the vault and was already prepared for the potion master with all the needed equipment, like scales, mortar, and pestle.
In the middle of the room, he placed a caldron that he found in his vault; it was placed between columns that supported the rooftop. Around the caldron, he engraved a few runes that would work as a small protective barrier in case of a potion mishap that would result in an explosion. Ru simply needed to power it up with her own magic to activate it in case of an emergency.
But he already planned to improve it further with the help of magic stones that he gathered from rabbits and boars. Harry wanted to add them as the main battery for his runic shield, enhancing its protective powers and ensuring Ru's safety during her experiments. By allowing it to activate when detecting a problem with a potion, it would allow Ru to leave the potion alone without worrying about it. After all, some potions took many hours to brew properly.
Harry also installed a magical ventilation system that would automatically activate if any harmful fumes were detected in the lab, keeping the air clean and safe for Ru to breathe. He engraved these runes on the columns that surrounded the caldron.
He was confident that the runic circles he had just engraved would work, as he had inspiration for them from one of the books he studied during the winter. The book explained that the runes had protective properties and would create a barrier against toxic substances, purifying the air instantly.
As the runes lit up in unison, he felt a surge of pride for his creation and a sense of relief knowing that Ru would be safe from any accidental exposure to harmful fumes.
While Harry was occupied building the potion-making laboratory, Ru was immersed in studying the translated books he had given her beforehand.
He quickly located the required spell and promptly cast it on books designed for the initial three years of Hogwarts potion studies, along with some extra books for novice potion-makers.
Ru was elated to have so many books to begin studying potions and began to read them immediately, excited to deepen her knowledge and skills in potion-making.
The detailed instructions and explanations in the books opened up a whole new world of possibilities for Ru's experiment.
Harry admired the intricate patterns of runes as they glowed faintly with magical energy. Feeling a sense of satisfaction at the progress he made, he let Ru brew her first potion.
He may never be a potion master, but he would gladly sit and help her with the process at the beginning, and in case of any magical explosion, he could always cast an additional protego of his own.
Ru, seeing her laboratory finally finished, beamed with joy, unable to contain her excitement as she envisioned the countless experiments she could now conduct in her new potion-making laboratory.
Harry sat down on the chair and just observed how Ru started working on her first potion. Ru carefully prepared the ingredients for her first potion, following the instructions she had studied so diligently in the newly acquired books.
For her first potion, she had chosen to brew a simple stamina potion, aiming to enhance one's endurance and vitality. The bubbling cauldron emitted a warm glow as Ru stirred in a precise, clockwise motion, her focus unwavering.
Harry watched with fascination as the potion changed colors and released a rejuvenating scent into the air. In that moment, he knew that Ru's passion for potion-making would lead her to great achievements. As the potion neared completion, Ru added the final ingredient and watched as the mixture transformed into a shimmering liquid.
With a steady hand, she poured the potion into a vial, sealing it tightly. The laboratory was filled with anticipation as Ru raised the vial to her lips, ready to test the fruits of her labor. With a deep breath, she drank the potion, feeling a surge of energy coursing through her veins.
Harry's involvement in the brewing was minimal, as Ru proved herself to be a prodigy and didn't need much of his help in the process. So seeing Ru sit down at the work desk and begin making notes about the potion, Harry quietly left the laboratory, knowing that he didn't need to worry about her exploding in the near future.
—-xXx—-
It passed a few days after her first potion-brewing session, and Ru was ecstatic. She has already started to think about how to improve the potions that she brews. The stamina potion was easy and was one of the few potions from the beginner level that had any use for her.
Ru's notebook was already filled with ideas for new ingredients she could use to enhance the potency of her potions. She was also thinking about making it more tasteful than it is now. Her own experiences certainly helped with the process.
And now, with more time on hand and the harvest already done, she has more time for her research. She planned to spend the entire day in the laboratory, with a break for dinner with Harry.
As she thought of him, she couldn't help but feel grateful for his support and encouragement throughout her potion-making journey. Ru knew that having someone like Harry by her side made all the difference in pursuing her passion for potion brewing.
The thought of sharing her progress and ideas with him over dinner made her heart swell with happiness. She couldn't wait to show him the improvements she had been working on and bounce ideas off of him.
Harry, even though he didn't enjoy potions, always made sure to humor her and listen to her passionately talk about her latest experiments. Ru cherished their time together and the way Harry showed his unwavering support for her dreams.
She often found inspiration in their conversations, sparking new ideas and approaches to her craft. The warm feeling that she felt in her chest whenever she thought of Harry. His presence gave her happiness that she had never felt before in her long life. He could make her laugh effortlessly, easing her stress and bringing brightness into her days.
As she started to move in the direction of her laboratory, Ru noticed Harry going out from their house, with Padfoot obediently following as always. He was carrying two brooms with him.
"Hey, Ru, would you like to go fishing with me?" he asked with a smile.
"I have never done it before," said Ru, feeling uncertain.
"Neither did I, but it may be fun," Harry laughed. "So what do you say?"
"Sure," nodded Ru. She could always experiment later; spending some time with Harry wasn't a bad deal for her, "but last I checked, you needed fishing rods and not brooms to do it."
He started to chuckle at that. "I got them ready too," he patted one of his pockets. "Brooms are for flying; the river is a few kilometers away from here."
Ru raised an eyebrow at that, and after a few moments, she started to levitate herself from the ground with her magic, saying, "I can fly just fine without it."
Harry made a face at that, and Ru couldn't contain her laughter.
"It looks like you got me," Harry admitted with a grin. "But flying on brooms is a classic wizarding activity. Who could resist that thrill?"
Ru chuckled and allowed herself to be back on earth. "So, how do I do it?"
Harry gave Ru a demonstration on how to mount the broom properly. "You need to kick off gently and lean forward a bit to gain some altitude," he explained, showing her the basics.
Ru watched attentively, then took a deep breath before mounting the broom herself. "Just relax and enjoy the ride," Harry encouraged her as they both soared into the sky, making slow circles to let Ru get a feel for how to fly.
After a few moments, they began their journey in the direction of the river, with Padfoot running happily next to them. The cool wind blew through Ru's hair as they glided smoothly on the brooms.
Harry turned to her, a grin on his face, as he marveled at the view below them. "See, flying on the brooms is exhilarating, isn't it?" he shouted over the rushing air. Ru couldn't help but smile back, feeling the thrill of the moment.
As they neared the river, the sound of water flowing became louder. Padfoot barked excitedly, eager to reach their destination. Harry gestured for Ru to follow him as he descended in a smooth arc towards a clear spot by the riverbank. She mimicked his movements, feeling the broom respond to her subtle shifts in weight.
Once they landed safely, Ru dismounted gracefully, a sense of accomplishment filling her. Harry was beaming at her. "You're a natural, Ru! I knew you'd take to flying like a duck to water," he praised her. "But considering that you can fly without it, it is even more impressive."
Ru blushed slightly at the praise. "You cannot fly without a broom."
"No, I can't," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe you can teach me how to do it sometime," he added with a grin.
Ru grinned at Harry's suggestion. "Sounds like a plan," she replied with a twinkle in her eyes, happy to be able to teach him something as well.
As they walked along the riverbank, Padfoot splashed happily in the water, chasing after fish that swam around and wagging his tail in pure joy.
Harry watched Padfoot with amusement, appreciating the simple happiness the wolf found in the cool river. Ru chuckled at Padfoot's playful antics, her heart warming at the sight.
When they reached a place from where they would start fishing, Harry took out from his pocket a small box that he enlarged into a suitcase. Ru watched in amazement at the magic and felt almost like vibrating with excitement at the thought of learning it.
Harry opened the enchanted suitcase, revealing an array of fishing equipment neatly arranged inside. "I have everything we need for a successful day of fishing," he announced proudly, handing Ru a fishing pole. Ru accepted it with a big smile.
As they settled down by the riverbank, Ru marveled at the beauty of their surroundings. The sun sparkled on the water, casting a golden glow on everything around them. Padfoot had found a comfortable spot and watched them lazily, occasionally letting out a soft yawn.
Picking a few baits from the suitcase, Harry cast his line, and it was clear that he didn't have any experience with it as he caught the back of his shirt with it.
Ru laughed at the sight, finding it endearing how Harry wasn't perfect in everything that he did.
Harry chuckled at his own mistake and untangled the fishing line from his shirt, trying to look as nonchalant as possible despite Ru's laughter.
Padfoot perked up at the commotion and trotted over, sniffing around Harry's feet to investigate. Ru, still giggling, reached out to pet Padfoot's head, feeling the soft fur beneath her fingers.
Feeling the gentle nudge of Padfoot's wet nose on her hand, Ru couldn't help but smile. The wolf looked up at her with big, expectant eyes, clearly hoping for some attention. Ru happily obliged, scratching behind Padfoot's ears as he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes in contentment.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Padfoot enjoying Ru's affection. He took a second attempt at casting a line, and it was more successful, this time landing into the water.
Seeing that Harry started fishing, Ru stopped petting Padfoot and cast her own fishing line with precise movement into the water. Padfoot, now content, settled back down on the grass nearby, observing the surroundings.
"What about a small competition?" asked Harry.
Ru grinned at the suggestion, always up for a friendly challenge. "Who's gonna catch the first fish?"
Harry's eyes sparkled with mischief as he nodded in agreement.
As ripples formed on the water's surface from their baited hooks, the anticipation grew. Harry glanced over at Ru, his expression playful yet competitive. Ru met his gaze with determination, a small smirk playing on her lips.
Harry leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the water, as he waited for any sign of movement on his fishing line. Ru mirrored his stance, her focus unwavering as she scanned the river for any activity. A gentle breeze ruffled their hair as they sat in comfortable silence.
Harry's line suddenly twitched, causing both Ru and Padfoot to lean in closer, their eyes trained on the water. With a quick flick of his wrist, Harry reeled in his line, and there it was—a small silvery fish shimmering in the dying light.
Ru gasped in surprise, but her competitive spirit only ignited further determination in her. Padfoot wagged his tail happily, clearly proud of his human companion's catch. Not one to be outdone, Ru refocused on her own line, making a silent vow to catch an even bigger fish.
As she patiently waited, Ru felt a tug on her line, and excitement filled her. With a swift motion, she reeled in her catch, revealing a medium-sized fish flopping at the end of her line.
"It seems I win," said Harry with a grin.
Ru glanced at the small fish in Harry's hand. "You may have caught the fish first, but mine is clearly more impressive," she said, a playful gleam in her eyes.
"But the deal was not about size; it was about speed," Harry retorted with a laugh. Ru chuckled, shaking her head in mock defeat.
"So what did I win?" asked Harry, eying Ru with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Ru pretended to ponder what reward to give him by placing a finger on her lips, as if she were deep in thought. "How about this?" she suggested, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. Harry blushed at the suggestion but leaned in, allowing Ru to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
"I think that's a fair prize," he coughed, tinged with embarrassment.
Ru smiled at his reaction, feeling warmth in her chest at the genuine moment they shared.
The trio continued to fish together until the sun began to set, relishing in the peaceful atmosphere and each other's company.
Response to reviews:
frankieu, sertzu89, Ronin Kenshin, firelordeg, .upg, Lonty Arbalest, knygia, James Birdsong, joelyn, C05M1C5T0RM, Johnthekind: Thanks for the positive reviews, and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter as well!
DGJabberwocky: They will be in the British subplot that I'm planning later in the story, and I won't bash them if this is what you ask for, so yes, they will be somewhat redeemed, as at the time they were still just teenagers, but Harry still felt betrayed that they placed Headmaster order over their friendship. By the time Harry is back in Britain, some time will pass, and the Golden Trio won't reform. Thanks for reading!
dakotafogarty: He has immortality from a healthy body, as Hiraku in the original Nonbiri had. (At least from what we can see in the manga/novel, Hiraku is immortal, or at least close to being immortal.) Thanks for reading!
Church21: Harry and Hiraku have some common traits between themselves; both are humble, kind, etc. But Harry will be more active than Hiraku. I know that the scene with Ru was kept close to the canon, but I believe that Harry, who spent a few months alone, could say the same things as Hiraku. In this chapter, I was playing somewhat with building relationships between Ru and Harry because, from what we know in anime, Hiraku and Ru simply got together the first night, and that was it. I hope you will enjoy it, and thanks for reading!
Jlargent: He has quite a collection of older brooms in his vault, but only one firebold. You are right that Harry would love to create his own broomstick, but for now he isn't as skilled in enchanting and runecraft to do it. I want to leave it for him to work with dark elves when they will be introduced later (broomsticks and mirrors are good examples of what they may create together). Thanks for reading!
0Harry. 0: I picked Harry after 4th year mainly because many of HP's characters are alive at this point and I could use them in the British subplot that I was planning. Harry is also old enough to at least be justified in having later children with Ru and others (I believe he is 15 at his trial, so meeting Ru would make him around 16~17; medievil settings would make it more comfortable as well). Thanks for reading!
Primus2021: You are right with Fleur and Harry not having any relationship in the books, but I wanted Harry in this story to have some other friends than Ron and Hermione, so it may not be openly stated who Harry was talking with, but he had more interactions with his classmates than canon. Harry, I may state this when writing Harry's thoughts or maybe some interlude chapters. With Fleur, he had friendship after rescuing her sister from the lake (not as big a friendship as Ron and Hermione, but still better than in Canon). He chose to send Hedwig to her because he knows he can count on her, and France is a better place for Hedwig's protection. Without random deatheaters running around. Plus, after feeling betrayed by the rest of the Golden Trio, his trust in them is also somewhat dim. Thanks for reading!
