When Ginny got home that afternoon, she called both her parents into the living room. Ron, Fred, and Geroge flocked in as well.
"So," Ginny began. "School was good today. I met with Harry first thing. We even were in the same class."
Daddy frowned. "But he is a year older than you, Ginny. He should have been with the children his age."
Ginny sighed. "He said his uncle lied on the paperwork to make him seem a year younger."
Now Mummy looked alarmed. "That's… why would he do that? You said his Uncle? He doesn't live with his parents?"
Ginny shook his head. "He told me they died when he was young. It's… a lot worse than that Mummy. He told me other things too. Daddy, Mummy, Harry is the mage we were looking for. I met his Sylph companion, Breezy, he calls her."
Her parents nodded at that. "We had a feeling," Mummy explained. "The magic in both of you spoke to you both. We saw it happen, so it makes sense Harry would also be the mage starting at the same school as you. But if his home life is as bad as I've just heard, and we still have more to discuss, Harry is in danger of falling down the dark path."
Daddy patted her on the shoulder. "You did well, sweetheart. We'll contact the Lion and get proper schooling set up for Harry in our circles."
"I should tell you the rest, Daddy…"
Ginny spent the next several minutes, telling her parents about the things Harry had told her. About his abusive Uncle and his Aunt who was just as much a victim as he was. About how his cousin was forced to bully him by his father. By the time she was done, she thought her Mummy was going to explode.
"Mummy, don't do anything rash." Ron chided, taking everyone by surprise. "Fire is dangerous when used in anger."
She saw their mummy stop and regard her youngest son. "Too right, Ronald." She said after a moment. "I admit, I had a half a mind to march down there and give those
Dursleys a piece of my mind. Arthur, if you need me, I'll be in the study. We need to get word to Lord Alderscroft today and not later."
Daddy nodded. "Good luck, my love."
They watched Daddy kiss Mummy before letting her go to the study. Daddy turned his attention to them.
"Well, who wants a biscuit? I dare say we could all use one."
Ginny smiled as her father took out the tin and passed the treats around. Her mind was still fixed on Harry, but there was nothing more she could do for now. She had to let Mummy and Lord A handle things from here.
*Hinny-Elemental-Masters*
David Alderscroft stood in his workshop in the Exeter Club. A knock on the door came and he called out.
"Enter."
A pair of young women came in, birds riding on their shoulders.
"You called for us, Lord A?" The pretty blonde girl with the grey parrot on her shoulder asked. Sarah Lyon-White was as prim and proper as always but her eyes bespoke her ability to cause mischief.
The dark-haired girl, Nan Killian, Sarah's partner in all things, wore jeans and a modest top. A large raven sat on her shoulder; a bird that previous had belonged to the Tower of London before he had claimed her as his owner.
"Sarah, Grey, Nan, Neville." He greeted them in order. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice."
"We're happy to help." Grey chirped from Sarah's should.
"And eat sparrows." Neville put in.
Nan reached over and gently swatted her bird. "Sorry, he is a cad."
David laughed at the antics of these girls, who were like nieces to him. "I have a commission for you all, if you are free at this time."
They nodded gravely, onto business.
"There is a new Mage of master potential in Surrey. I would like you four to go and observe and stand ready, just in case. The Fire Master in that region is concerned the Uncle might try and interfere if we simply give the lad a scholarship to the Harton School. Be ready to act, if the need arises."
The girls exchanged looks. Nan spoke up. "If he does, permission to poke him in the kidneys with my umbrella point?"
David raised an eyebrow. "As long as you don't draw your sword from it first."
Nan blushed at the admittance that David knew about the blade. After all, he had been the one to fund the girls' modified umbrellas.
"Be careful. I would hate to have anything happen to you. This kid, Harry Potter, I knew his parents. His father was a minor Earth power, focused on shape-shifting. However, he and his buddies worked for this Lodge and taking out dark creatures. James was a good man. As for his mother, Lily, she was a Master and had a standing invitation to join our fellowship. If something happened to her, well the White Lodge does not take kindly to dark powers interfering."
The girls nodded again. "What power is Harry, Lord A?" Sarah asked.
"He is Air, which I feel Grey and Neville would appreciate."
The birds bobbed their confirmation at his words.
"As for a teacher… is Albus still around?" David asked a small black mirror beside him. A salamander flickered to life on it's surface.
"Yes, milord." The small elemental confirmed. "Shall I go and ask if he is willing to take on a new pupil?"
David nodded. "I believe he was Lily's teacher as well? I think he would appreciate the task. Do watch out, girls. Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful Air master in the British Isles, maybe the world. The only thing that eclipses his power is his oddity."
Nan laughed even as Sarah giggled. David gave them a mock hurt expression.
"Sorry, Lord A." Sarah stopped her giggling, but just barely. "Your pretty odd yourself. If your predecessors knew you brought women and foreigners into the club… scandalous."
David huffed. "Away with you, teasers. And tell Isabel and Fredrick I will be joining them for dinner soon, if you see them on your way to Surrey."
The girls laughed again as they took their leave. David sighed as he looked over the mountains of paperwork. He watched the young women leaving on their next adventure.
How he wished he could be going with them. He picked up a pen and turned his attention back to the job of running the magical world of England. He had asked for that very job, after all.
*Hinny-Elemental-Masters*
Harry was feeding Hedwig. She had already doubled in size since he first found her and was getting concerned Uncle Vernon would discover her.
"She's growing so fast, Breezy." He remarked as Hedwig accepted nibbles of meat from his hand.
"Too fast…" Breezy replied darkly. "There must be danger of some sort."
Harry looked up. "Can we be certain?"
Breezy sighed. "My sisters are short of memory. I can ask them to look around, but I am uncertain they will be able to complete the task if the danger is too far away. I'll have to go myself. But if I do, I cannot shelter the little one from your Uncle."
Harry looked down at the baby owl who moved to snuggle into his chest, hooting softly.
"Maybe I can have Ginny watch her, while you're away?"
Breezy shook her head. "No, not so soon anyways. A bonded baby bird must be with its bondee until grown or it can several impacts both. All we can do is be weary and hope a maelstrom does not sneak up on us."
Harry petted the baby owl as her eyelids slid closed. He sighed.
"Alright. Maybe it's time to learn some direct defensive spells?"
Breezy smiled. "Now that I can do. Let me show you how to make a wind wall. It can even stop bullets from those weapons you humans love so much. Guns…" She said in disgust. "There was something honorable about a bow and arrow. It flew with the wind."
Harry sat Hedwig in her little bed before he got up and started to practice conjuring a warding wind to block incoming projectiles and magics. Even as he got into the fun of learning the spell, he hoped a time to use it for real would not come any time soon.
A/N: Guess whose back? It's Stormermia! I wonder if this was the right fic to update first after two months off but this is the one I was inspired to write. See you next month!
