Chapter 29

29 July 24

-oOo-

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

-oOo-

December 25, 1995

Isla Nublar, Costa Rica

Owen awoke in the small bedroom that had become his. The bed was built into the wall. Several drawers were under the bed, with a small closet just behind the door, a small desk with all his schoolbooks, his wand and a book of spells he had been allowed to borrow. Shelves to the right of the desk had some of the knickknacks and other books he had collected, along with shell fragments from four different eggs.

The small room in the trailer wasn't as big as the one he had grown up in, but it was far better than what the priests had given him. Rolling over, he did his best to avoid the four shapes that were at the foot of his bed.

He blinked a few times, trying to figure out why he had woken up since it was still dark in his room. Looking at the alarm clock on the shelves, he groaned to see it was only four thirty. Quickly peeking out the shade, the sky was only starting to lighten up.

One of the figures moved. He watched to see one of the little raptors stretch its neck. Its yawning maw had dozens of sharp little teeth. Muldoon had been very against letting the raptors off Isla Sorna and not to be kept in a cage, but when Owen left them, they would start to cry out and wouldn't accept food from anyone else besides him.

After saying that it hurt to leave them, Sirius had spoken up for him and he had been allowed to keep them in the compound. As long as they didn't cause any issues, they would be allowed to stay, but would most likely need to go into a paddock soon as they got bigger.

They were already the size of a large cat after only a month. He couldn't wait until they grew larger. He really wanted to see how they would hunt. Though, they could be extremely dangerous.

Harry kept a wary eye on them but didn't bother him on it. Like the older boy, Owen could talk to his familiars, and they listened to him. Besides, it wouldn't be fair that Harry got to keep Rexy around most of the time and if he couldn't keep Blue, Delta, Echo and Charlie.

Blue had seemed a natural name. He hadn't cared as much about the other names, but the scientists had started to use those call signs and only Blue responded to the name he wanted to give them. He had the strongest connection with Blue, and the other three were following her lead, so it had been deemed safe enough to have them with him.

Rolling over again, he soon found he couldn't fall back to sleep. Huffing, he rolled over one more time. His room was growing light as the day brightened. Movement down the end of his bed had him shifting to see the four little raptors. Blue had her eyes open and was staring at him.

She chirped, Alpha.

He grinned at her before chirping and growling back. Hey Blue. I see the others are waking too.

Charlie, who was a darker green with black strips, stretched as her claws biting into the sheet. He was happy that Sirius had cast some protection spells on them, so they didn't tear it to shreds.

Delta nipped at Charlie, who nipped back.

No fighting, Owen ordered. Charlie backed down while Delta nipped towards him. When he stared the small raptor down, Delta backed down. She was a dull teal colour.

Echo just stood up, arching his back like a cat. He was the only male out of the group. Dr Wu was trying to figure out how that happened since no lab grown dinosaur had yet been male upon hatching. Harry thought it was magic. Echoe's brown skin with dark blue strips would probably blend in better with shadows.

He gave a small bark, Food?

This got Charlie and Delta chirping the same thing. Blue got up, nipped at Delta and the other three quieted.

I'm up, he barked back at them.

They jumped off his bed, hopping around and playing as he rolled out of bed and put a shirt on. He liked sleeping in only shorts with how warm it got out. The second he opened the door to his room, the four of them ran out. Behave and leave the others alone, he told them.

He was the first one up, thus got to the bathroom first. By the time he made it out to the kitchen area, Sirius was sitting at the table, a teacup in his hands and nudging the little blighters away from him.

"If they nip me, I'm feeding them to Rexy," the older man griped.

Blue was making sure the others didn't.

"They're just hungry. I'll let them outside and get them something to eat.

Sirius grunted.

Owen opened the door. Stay close and don't bother anyone. Watch out for the compys too.

Yes, Alpha, Blue chirped back as they all ran off into the ferns by the side of the trailer.

Sirius looked disgruntled. "I know they are your familiars, but they can't stay in here much longer. That green one was attacking my boot last night."

Owen grinned. "Delta thought it smelled like food."

Sirius grunted. "Bloody great. Next time make sure my foot isn't in it. Oh, Happy Christmas. I'll get Harry up soon. We're going over to John's bungalow for presents and breakfast."

He blinked. The island had been getting ready for Christmas, but it was still so warm, and he didn't have his mother's typical… Owen frowned to think of what Christmas used to be like with his family.

He didn't want to think of that, so didn't say anything. Instead, he went into the refrigerator and took out a thick steak. After cutting it up, he sprinkled the ground vitamins over the bloody meat that Dr Harding had given him, then went outside. Food, he barked out.

The four little raptors came tearing out of the ferns giving out a cry of hunters on the prowl. Delta had a small mouse in its mouth. Owen would let him have his kill, and make sure he ate the steak bits as well. It was Christmas after all.

At a deep growl, Owen looked up.

Danger! Danger! Charlie barked out.

Delta and Echo did the same. Blue, on the other hand nipped at Charlie's neck, getting them to silence. She stepped before the others. Rexy stood and poked his head over the top of the trailer on the far end.

Did you bother him again? Owen asked.

Rexy growled.

Stay clear, Blue replied.

After a moment, Rexy shook himself, ending the standoff. In their respective areas, the two predators were at the top. There was a natural territorial urge from both. Harry had helped to explain it when Owen was having a little bit of a difficult time understanding.

It made sense.

Owen still looked up to Harry though. He was the coolest boy he had ever met. Not to mention he had the hottest girl Owen had ever seen. It wasn't like he was disappointed in the attention he was getting from Charlotte and now Daphne, but he couldn't help but feel attracted to Lex. Hermione, who had unexpectedly become a friend in the last few weeks, thought it might be their magic after overhearing Sirius. He had given her a knowing smile when she blushed when he brought up Harry

Leave the grumpy Rexy alone, Owen told his pack when Rexy opened his mouth in a huge yawn. The nearly twelve-foot-tall tyrannosaur was a scary sight, except that he knew it wouldn't bother anyone unless Harry said so or the big guy thought Harry or Lex were threatened.

Yes, Alpha, Blue said.

When Rexy moved away to the watering trough that had been added to the compound, his pack settled, and Charlie went back to his kill.

A few hours later found most of them at Mr Hammond's. Rexy had gone back to his paddock, while his pack was in a pen installed at the compound. No one wanted the raptors loose if he wasn't around, even though they had only ever threatened two people. One was a scientist that had been annoyingly poking them as Dr Wu did a check-up, and the other was Karl when he was talking with Charlotte.

Owen didn't know what to think of the older boy. He was nineteen. Charlotte was only fourteen. Owen didn't like it, but he hadn't thought the boy treating her wrong. It wasn't the same though as he saw how Karl looked at Lex and Harry. He had a feeling that Karl wanted Lex and was rather jealous of Harry.

"Merry Christmas!" Tim loudly exclaimed as they walked in.

Lex bounced over to Harry to hug him. Hermione was staying close to Harry. She had whenever she could since Harry and Sirius had saved her. Lex gave Hermione a hug after kissing Harry, then did the same with Susan. He saw Sirius and Ms Murphy doing something similar. The Greengrasses hadn't come as they didn't celebrate Christmas.

His eyes were drawn to a girl that approached him.

Charlotte was in a red, knee-length dress that caught her developing body in just the right way and her hair had been pulled back. He gave her a slightly shy smile and a wave.

She returned it. "Happy Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," he said, finding it odd that all the British people said it wrong.

Charlotte moved over to him. "How has your morning been?"

"Good," he told her. Looking around the room at the happy faces and people still greeting each other. It was the first time in a little bit he felt the pang of not seeing his family, but their betrayal was still too raw, especially the weeks he had been at the monastery.

"Dad said we could get to presents once you all arrived," she said a little more excitedly.

"Presents?" he asked, not thinking he would get anything.

"Of course. Mister Hammond, Misses Bones, Miss Murphy and my dad made sure we all have presents. Though, I rather miss the chilly weather and a palm tree isn't a proper Christmas tree," Charlotte said, indicating the oddly decorated palm tree in a planter by the windows. The pile of presents dwarfed the tree.

"Wicked," he said, looking at the pile.

Even though he missed his family, Owen was finding he had a new family. One that accepted him. He was excited to find he got a new computer, a wand holster like Harry's (he wished it would disappear like Harry's), some new clothes, two games and some other stuff.

The highlight of the day, and what left Harry and the others grinning at him as they drove back to the compound was the kiss on his cheeks, then the soft peck on his lips from Charlotte when she caught him under the mistletoe. He didn't really notice the trip back as he let a goofy grin spread across his face and turned to look back at Mr Hammond's bungalow. Charlotte was staying with her father for the night.

-oOo-

December 27, 1993

Beauxbatons, France

Winter around the mountains had settled in. The snows were already a few feet deep and the biting wind nipped at any exposed flesh. Having grown up in Norway, he was used to these types of winters. It was why they were dressed in fur lined leather and had snowshoes. What surprised him was that most of the other surrounding mountains were not as affected.

There was snow. Not as deep as he was used too by this time of the year back home, but deeper than they had been led to believe it should be.

His father had noticed as well. "I think the wards help protect this place by enhancing the winter," his father commented.

"Much like the wards back home did," Karl replied as they finally approached the area that had the arch into the wards.

His father nodded.

It had taken them two days to get this far without a car and because of the weather. Given the trek so far, he figured it would be another two days to reach the village. Looking up slope, he stopped.

His father had been looking into the trees. Noticing that Karl had paused, he stopped. "What is it?"

Karl unslung his rifle, pointing it up the way. A deep rut had been cut into the snow crossing the trail. His father unslung his rifle before taking out his wand. "Homenum Revelio."

Karl felt the magic. "Did Harry teach you that? Why hasn't he taught me?"

"It was Sirius. You were more interested in learning battle magic that day," his father told him.

Karl didn't like it that a boy three years his junior knew more than him. As much as they had been learning, Harry always seemed so far ahead. Not that he didn't understand why. Harry had been to a formal school, not to mention he knew Harry read most nights.

Sirius and Harry made the books they had available, but Karl didn't care to read. He had always found it hard.

He wondered if that was why Alexis liked Harry so much and didn't even glance his way?

"There is something in the trees off that way," his father told him.

"A half-giant?"

"I don't know. It's big and must be a humanoid, otherwise that spell wouldn't have worked," his father said. "It's just inside the tree line."

Karl moved towards the other side of the trail. They had been told trolls and ogres lived around the valley the last time they had been here. He had also been told that the half-giants didn't usually leave the ward barriers.

The wide, deep trail in the snow led to the arch. They were on guard as they went through. The ruts in the snow came up the pathway they knew they had to follow. "Papa, teach me."

"When we get to the village. Now is not the time," his father told him.

Karl nodded. A light snow started to fall.

Looking back, he thought he saw a shadow move in the trees but wasn't sure. He made sure a bullet was chambered in the larger calibre rifle than he normally would have, and that his wand was ready to use. He was still a far better shot than caster, but he knew he had some power in his spells. Harry had made sure he knew the cutting charm and the bludgeoning and blasting hexes. He just wasn't as good an aim as his sister Daphne.

Karl moved in a little closer to whisper. "Something is following us."

"I think several somethings. There is more than one track here, and they aren't wearing any type of foot protection," his father said, casually pointing the gun towards the first clear footprint he had seen. There were two large footprints overlapping each other. Both were clearly twice the size of his own foot with four stubby toes. He recognized those tracks from the preserve he grew up on.

"Trolls," he hissed.

His father nodded his head. Luckily it wasn't noontime yet, so they might be able to make it to the village shortly after dark if they keep up a fast pace. He did worry about the dense wood they had to go through before then.

The trail the trolls took went to the left when they knew the trail they needed went straight. His father moved his gun to his shoulder. Karl did the same. Even as fit he was, keeping up the gruelling pace was starting to get to him after an hour. They didn't stop until they were at the base of the stairs of the cliff.

"Take a quick break. Eat and drink. Homenum Revelio," his father incanted. After a moment, he shook his head to indicate he couldn't feel anything.

Karl kept his gun slung over his shoulder and ready to use as he quickly had a small meal. After about ten minutes, he watched over his father. They didn't say anything. If their family wasn't so good at pathfinding and directions, they might have been lost as the snow picked up

"Homenum Revelio," his father cast. He turned to the right. "Just at the far end of the spell."

"How far can it reach?"

"Maybe twenty-five to thirty meters," his father said. The snow wasn't falling heavily enough to not see that far. Karl frowned. His father seemed to have the same thought. There were only bushes in the direction his father indicated. "We mustn't tarry anymore."

The clouds were making the day dark as the snowfall got heavier. Much darker than it should be for only an hour or two past noon. The sun should be up for another few hours. As they approached the thick set trees where the half-giants had found them last time, they were running the best they could in the snow. A cracking branch had them turn and stop. They both brought their guns up.

A large shape could be seen on the edge of the trees, about a hundred yards away. Through the snow he could see it was dressed in roughly sewn together skins. Its broad shoulders, hulking, long arms and small head left no doubt it was a troll. By the looks of it, it was a large mountain troll. As they saw it, another rose up. He hadn't even seen in. The snow was adding to the natural camouflage of the beasts' clothes, which looked to be sheep skins with all sorts of bracken and other stuff caught of woven in. Most had large clubs, but one had a giant great sword like the half-giants used. Probably a trophy from the half-giants. Fear shot through him as he realized the other four bushes were trolls as well as they started to move.

"Karl, go!" his father ordered. They started to run, knowing that if they fired, the trolls would start to charge like they did at Durmstrang. By running, they could probably gain a good hundred yards before the beasts understood what was happening.

Karl pulled out his wand. Huffing he incanted, "Diffindio!" as they ran into the trees. His spell wasn't as strong as Harry's, but it cut through two of the large spruces. It wouldn't hold up the trolls for long, but it would give them more time. One or two trolls, they could handle. Six was not good odds, even with the larger calibre rifles. The two times he had killed a troll, it had taken a good six shots each from these rifles.

His father took lead as he cut down more of the tall trees. The crunching and crashing of the limbs and trunks were quickly swallowed by the densely packed spruces further in. A bellow of a troll came over the crashing of the trees.

"Save your strength," his father ordered.

He slipped his wand up the holster Sirius had given them before they left.

Coming around a turn in the path, a clearing opened before them. Karl was looking behind them to see if they were still being followed when his father came to an abrupt halt. Karl slammed into him.

"Papa, what…" he got out through pants before stopping when he heard a loud grunt. Looking up and to the other side of the clearing, his heart dropped into his throat. Three trolls stood where the path led out of the clearing.

One was brandishing an axe with a chipped blade and the others had clubs. His father lifted his gun. Karl did the same. The big one in the middle let out a bellow. They slowly started to lumber towards them, picking up speed at they went.

CRACK!

Karl's rifle jerked back. The big one in the middle twisted as the bullet ripped through a shoulder but didn't stop. He opened the bolt, ejecting the spent cartridge and jammed it forward.

He took careful aim.

CRACK!

CRACK!

His bullet hit its arm. His father got a lucky shot through its eye. The big guy stumbled, then fell face first. Karl worked the bolt again.

His father got off another shot before having to dive out of the way.

CRACK!

This one just grazed the next troll. Karl let his gun drop to his side. His wand came out. "BOMBARDA!"

It hit the troll in the chest when the spell exploded. The troll grabbed at its chest, stumbled and fell to a knee. He grabbed his rifle again. He pulled the bolt back, focusing on the one before him to make sure it was not immediately getting up before he twirled around to the one that was swinging a club at his father.

CRACK!

The club swung down before the troll stumbled. A hand grabbed at its side just below its arm pit. He pulled the bolt again, wanting to fire as soon as the bullet was loaded, but movement out the corner of his eye had him spinning around as the one about ten feet from him got up onto a knee with one hand on the ground and the other to its head. He back stepped before firing. The bolt locked as the shell was ejected, letting him know the magazine was empty.

He let go of his gun, counting on the strap to keep the gun with him, he pointed his wand. As he back stepped he cried out, "DIFFINDIO!"

The cutting curse ripped through the troll's clothes, but did almost no damage to the thick, grey skin of the creature. Bellowing in rage, it scrambled to its feet to lumber towards him. "BOMBARDA!" he screamed. The blasting hex hit the creature's arm as it raised it to swing down. The club went flying and the troll spun around. Its momentum had it crashing onto its back just a foot or two away from him as he frantically backed up. "BOMBARDA!"

It bellowed in pain when the spell hit its leg. Green blood splattered the white snow as the skin ripped open in what looked no more than a superficial wound. The spells weren't doing as much damage as the rifles.

Karl reached magazines on the belt over his shoulder. He fumbled with his gun. He managed to get the new magazine in, then moved to chamber a shot. It was then he realized his mistake. A large beefy hand grabbed his leg. He cried out in pain as it squeezed. He was bodily pulled off his feet, then sent soaring through the air. His wand went flying and the gun flung off his arm. When he landed, it was to pain, even landing in the snow.

CRACK!

There was rapid metallic sound of a shell being expelled and the bolt jamming into place.

CRACK!

He heard his father quickly chamber a new round.

CRACK!

He forced himself to get up onto his hands. His leg had to be broken with the pain it was in.

His gun was just out of reach. Looking up, he could see his father had dropped the troll attacking him and was now hitting the one charging after Karl.

Karl scrambled, ignoring the pain, to grab his gun. The thing was in a full battle rage now. It stumbled a little when hit but kept on moving forward.

He chambered a round. Raising the gun, he aimed at the trolls bouncing head. Pulling the trigger, blood spouted out of its neck. His father hit its knee. The ground shook when it fell. Still intent on killing him, it tried to get up. Karl pulled the bolt, aimed, then pulled his trigger again. This time he got it in the head. It was in a sitting position for a few heart beats before it fell over backwards.

The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins. He chambered another shot. Did he have one or two bullets left? He scanned the clearing for others. His father did the same, making sure the downed trolls weren't moving. A roar not far off had his father spinning around, his gun pointing towards the path they came from. The clearing was covered in dark green blood and four huge bodies. "Can you walk?"

Karl tried to get up, hissing at the pain. "I need a crutch. I lost my wand."

His father looked around quickly. "We need to go. We can come back."

His father put a hand under his arm and helped him up. Karl cried out when he put a little weight on his leg. Leaning into his father, they started towards the village. They moved as fast as they could to get under the spruces and pines, hoping to stay ahead of the trolls behind them. The snow started to come down in huge clumps.

Something crashed behind them. Karl looked over his shoulder but couldn't see anything around the bend. A bellowing roar, this time much closer, had him hobbling faster. "Papa, leave me," he told his father when it sounded like the trolls were just a turn behind them. The path turned again.

"Be quiet, Karl! I will not leave one of my children," his papa told him.

A roar came from just before them. His papa pushed him to the side of the trail. Karl grit his teeth at the jolt of pain. His eyes went wide to see three graphorns charging down the trail. A bellow came from behind them. He turned to see a troll running through the snow. Three more came around the bend just behind the large one with the sword. The graphorns roared back.

CRACK!

His father's rifle went off. Gritting his teeth against the pain of his leg, Karl stood to lean against a tree. The graphorns were attacking the trolls. He shouldered his rifle. Seeing an opening, he pulled the trigger, getting a shot in before the graphorns just missed the troll's club as they leapt onto the huge thing. He got three more before the bolt stayed open as the magazine emptied. He quickly reloaded his gun. There was a cacophony of howls, growls, bellowed cries of pain and challenge. Karl took aim at one of the other trolls, going for its legs.

He got off two shots and hobbled one troll before the battle cry of the half-giants echoed through the trees. He switched his concentration to a troll that pulled one of the graphorns off and threw it into the trees. The large grey animal crashed through branches.

Five half-giants lumbered past them. Karl lowered his gun, panting and wincing in pain. Two of the half-giants stopped by them. Karl looked up to see one of the guards that had helped them before. His father started to talk with them using the medallion that Sirius had given him to translate.

The fight was over in a few minutes. Two trolls crashed into the trees, tearing their way through them as two others lay dead in the path. He saw one of the graphorns laying unnaturally still as another limped over to one of the guards. Karl was panting as he leaned heavily against the tree and lowered his gun.

"Karl, they will take us back to the village. Can you walk?"

He shook his head. "No, papa."

He nodded. Soon, much to his embarrassment, he was being lifted and carried like a small child.

-oOo-

The same day…

Washington, D.C., USA

Father Reginald walked through the quiet halls of the seminary with a small suitcase in his hands. Brother William and Brother Arnold were walking with him. Looking down at the street, he could see the car that was waiting for them.

He had been summoned back to the Vatican to talk with the cardinals of their Order. He chafed a little at the inane name they had had to adopt after Pope Pius VII had stripped them of their patron saint when he had disbanded the inquisition. Pulling on their mandate as the Hand of God, they had become the Invisible hand.

If the old prophesies of magic rising again were true, they would be able to come out of the shadows and finish the work that the first of their order, Cardinal Erick Renwick, had started. He knew that there were two competing prophecies. One had the heretics finally being defeated. The other was the prophesied evil over taking the earth.

He would not allow that to happen.

This seminary was one of the few large strongholds that the Order still had. Magic in the Americas was still relatively wild and the heretics were still appearing relatively frequently. Eighty-six of their members were stationed here, with thirty or more following up on rumours most of the time. Even so, that meant there were still over fifty brothers and five priests as the seminary most days.

He greeted a few as he made his way towards the car. Descending the stairs, he stopped when he heard his name called out behind him. Looking up, a man in his older years was rushing towards him. He was out of breath by the time he caught up with them.

"Be at peace, Brother Thomas. What has you so riled?" he asked the man.

Brother Thomas was leaning over with his hands on his knees. He held out a paper. "A team in Marseille identified two heretics," the man said.

Father Reginald took the paper. The two had come off an InGen jet, then went off into the mountains. He pursed his lips. The location sounded familiar. Closing his eyes, he went through the Order's history. There had been a few large events in the mountains around Bethmale, but he couldn't remember where or what…

"Brother William, why does Bethmale, France sound familiar?" he asked, having a suspicion on how something pulled on his gift of God.

The bald shaven man frowned. He knew this man was one of the Order's historians. "It is in the Pyrenees in France. I can remember some history… actions. Two armies under our Order… One of them was eliminated before the second was successful."

The man frowned to look up at him. "Father, I can't remember."

"Neither can I. Wasn't the old heretic fortress of Beauxbatons in France?"

The man looked to be rooting around in his memories. "It is, but I don't remember where."

This was very worrying. "Brother Thomas, please have the local group check out Bethmale and stay for a few weeks. I feel this is important."

"Yes, Father Reginald," the older man said.

This would bother him for the trip to the airport and to Rome.

-oOo-

December 31, 1993

Isla Nublar, Costa Rica

The cafeteria in the Visitor Center was full. Except for a few that were needed just to monitor the park, the entire island population was here. Sixty some odd people were talking, laughing and dancing.

It was getting close to midnight and Harry was sitting against the wall, straddling a bench on one of the tables. He was picking at a rich cake that Lex had placed down next to him. She was between his legs, her back against his chest as she ate her own piece.

Hermione, Susan, Owen, Astoria and Tim were playing a spirited game of Bullshit! Lex and Owen had taught them all and it had become one of the more popular games, mostly because the adults didn't call them on swearing. On the next table over, Daphne was talking with the Creevey brothers.

"HA! Two Three's!" Susan exclaimed as she slammed two cards down on the discard pile after drawing one.

"You are not winning this time," Astoria growled. "Bullshit!"

Susan gave her a sweet smile. She reached down and flipped the cards over. "I think you need to pick up the pile."

Astoria said something in Norwegian that Harry was certain was a swear. He laughed to see Susan's smug expression.

"That would be impressive if I didn't have three Aces," Hermione said. "And I'm out."

"NO WAY! Bullshit!" Owen cried out.

Hermione shrugged and flipped the cards over.

"Fucking…!" Owen exclaimed, throwing his cards down.

Charlotte pulled up a chair next to him. "Can I join the next game?"

"We just finished. I'm done for now," Hermione told her.

"You can't just leave like that! I demand a rematch," Astoria said hotly.

Lex leaned against him. He felt like something was off. "You alright?" he whispered into her ear.

She giggled and moved her shoulder to cover her ear. "Just missing some of my friends," she told him.

Harry wrapped his arms around her midsection. "I'm sure your grandfather could bring them out here."

She sighed to watch the younger teens laughing, accusing each other of cheating and having an enjoyable time. Harry could get where she was coming from. They were sixteen, but Harry felt so much older. The others here were between twelve and fourteen. He had never realized how much different the older years and younger years at Hogwarts had been, but he was starting to understand now.

In his mind, he was thinking he would be an adult in the wizarding world in seven months. Or was it four months? Physically, he figured he would be seventeen in four months, but he still thought of July thirty-first as his birthday. In the real world he still had over a year-and-a-half. Even so, he felt so much older. For Merlin's sake! He had been through more than most retired Aurors.

At the same time, they were still too young to really be adults.

He looked over to the group on the dance floor. It was most of the graduate students and younger workers. He hadn't really spent much time with Tonks yet. Well, Dora. She liked Dora. He just couldn't.

It hurt him to see Hermione being so different and not knowing him. Tonks and the Creevey brothers weren't helping. Though it was nice to not have that damned camera in his face. He had mostly been avoiding her, and everyone else outside of their lessons. But to see so many others that he had known in his old life here and not know who he really was was rather painful. Even seeing Hagrid had been bad. Only having to rush off to save Lex had probably kept him from dwelling on it too much.

Apparently, Lex was starting to feel like she was out of place as well, having been ripped from the world she knew.

"I need some air," he told her.

She moved to get up. Not listening to his rather meek, "Stay here and have fun," she took his hand.

"I don't really want to be here either," she told him.

Harry pulled her in closer and put an arm around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his waist. As they were heading out the doors, Sirius caught his eye. He shook his head to let him know that nothing was wrong. The man watched them leave.

"Where do you want to go?" she asked.

"I don't know. I just… I just needed to get out of there," he told her.

Lex kissed his jaw.

They found their way into the night. It was a little cool, especially since he was in shorts and a t-shirt, and she was in a nice dress. His wand shot to his hand, and he tapped it on a nearby leaf. It morphed into a nice cloak. He was showing off a little, but Sirius had been helping him with more advanced transfiguration. He was also feeling nostalgic, and the cloak made him feel like he was in the wizarding world. Something he apparently needed tonight.

Lex blinked. "I haven't seen you do that before."

Harry grinned as he put the cloak over her shoulders. "I've been going through some of the transfiguration books. I know you want to start learning more, but transfiguration hasn't been my best subject."

"You are doing that for me?" she questioned with a small grin. He had started to walk towards the overlook tower when she pulled him towards her grandfather's place instead.

He shrugged as she tried to wrap the cloak around him too. "I need to stay ahead of you in something. I doubt I'll ever catch up enough for university. I don't even know if I want to go."

"Why not?"

Harry kissed her forehead as they reached the door. "I like it here. I want to learn more magic. I couldn't leave Rexy like that. I would like to go back to Hogwarts."

"You really want to setup that zoo grandpa has suggested, don't you?"

She shut the door behind them. With a sultry look on her face, she pulled him towards her bedroom. "I want to be with the dinosaurs, but I miss it. What are you up to?"

Lex pulled him into her room and shut the door. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

Harry raised a brow to her, not sure he fully got what she meant, but hoped… "Lex?"

Lex moved in to kiss him. His hands held her waist to pull her in closer. After a moment she said, "Do you love me?"

"You know I do," he said, thinking he had made that clear. She was the only one, aside from his lost familiar Hedwig, that he had ever said that too.

She gently pushed him onto the bed. "Then make love to me."

Harry felt his heart thud in his chest as she moved to straddle his legs. "Are you sure?"

She gently cupped his face before giving him a gentle kiss that slowly became more needy. When she pulled back, she said, "Harry, I need you. Please show me you need me."

Even though he felt a little concerned, he couldn't keep a silly grin coming to his face as she shucked the cloak off, then pulled the dress over her head. He very much appreciated the shear lacy bra and that her larger breasts were right in his face as she arched her back to pull the dress off.

"I will always need you," he said before she arched over to ravenously claim his mouth.

The clock in the sitting room chimed midnight as Lex cuddled into his side. Her golden curlies were rubbing against his leg as she put one of her legs over his. Her head was against his chest. Her fingers were playing with one of his nipples and Harry was trying not to squirm.

He wasn't sure what had brought all that on, but he wasn't going to say it hadn't been nice for their first time. He thought it had been brilliant. He hoped Lex felt the same.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, feeling she was still a little off.

"Are you sad that you are here instead of back where you came from?"

His arm pulled her closer to him. His body partially responding to hers as he pulled her against him. "I miss my old friends, but I don't miss much else. I really like it here."

"Are you happy with me?"

He kissed the top of her head. "Lex, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. What is going on?"

She kissed his other nipple. He squirmed and she gave a mischievous grin before sobering. "I want to go to college. I miss my friends. But I don't want to leave either. You are here. I've not seen my mom this happy in a long time. Sirius is good for her. Tim is actually getting along with others. I just… I just don't want you to not be happy with me. I don't want to lose you."

Harry wrapped her in his arms. "I would never leave you."

"But you will need to go back to England or other places to find other wizards or to do what you do. I don't think college is right for you either. I just… I just don't want to lose you."

"I will always come back to you. I will follow you wherever you want me too," he told her.

"What about Rexy?" she asked.

"I will find a way to keep him around or do what we need."

"What about Isla Matanceros? You and Sirius are the only real teachers we have to learn how to control our magic. I can't have you following me like that," she told him.

"We will find a way, luv. I am not going to leave you. You, Rexy and Sirius are all I have," he said, a little emotion clouding his voice.

She shifted to lean on one elbow. He couldn't stop himself from enjoying how her chest moved as she did so. She met his eyes with an intense stare when he looked back up into her face. "I want you to have more than just us. Mom and grandpa really care about you. Muldoon, Yvonne and the others have pretty much adopted you as their own. You have so many that you just naturally attract to you. I just…"

Harry was really concerned. "I know. I feel more accepted here than back… there." He couldn't say home anymore. His old world had stopped being home a while ago. "I feel… I feel like this is home. Where you are. It's home. What is really bothering you?"

She gave him a small smile. "I'm just being silly."

"No, you aren't. Something is bothering you. It's not what happened, is it?" asking about her kidnapping last month.

She shook her head. "No. I don't think so. I… I dreamed you would leave me," she told him in a small voice.

"I would never," Harry tried to assure her. He lifted his head to kiss her, but she pulled back.

Lex shook her head. "I dreamed that you and Sirius found a way to go back. You just… you just left."

His intense green eyes gazed into her eyes. "I would like to know what happened to a few people, but I don't want to go back. I will not leave you."

Her blue eyes changed. "You really wouldn't, would you?"

He lifted his head again. This time she let him touch his lips to hers in a gentle, sweet kiss. "Alexis Murphy, I love you. Nothing would keep me from you," he told her. He knew his magic called for her. He would always want and need her. He would move heaven and earth for her. He had killed for her and would do it again if she was threatened.

Her blue eyes searched his for a long moment before she bit her lip. After a moment, she said, "Will you show me again?"

Harry grinned. The first time had been a little awkward. This time was better as she rolled on top of him. He watched her come apart as she rode him. They both agreed they would need to practice more, just like they did with their magic, but she told them they would be doing this again as she fell asleep in his arms.

They could deal with her irate mother in the morning. Tonight, Lex needed him and he needed her.

-oOo-

January 2, 1994

Beauxbatons, France

It had taken the last five days to heal from the troll attack with the help of the shamans. Even so, Karl was still walking with a slight limp as his leg ached. The healing methods of the shamans were crude, but effective. If he had had to recover on his own, it would have been months to be as recovered as he was.

Sitting at the table of Hagrid's house, he was looking at a book that his father had been able to haggle over with the sages. They had had to trade a small goblin forged dagger for the two books, but from what he could translate with the medallions, they held for more information than he thought the sages realized. He only recognized it because of Sirius and Harry though.

The first book was on transfiguration, specifically human transfiguration.

The other book was on warding. Or at least that is what it seemed like. It was heavy on runes and how to power them.

Normally he wouldn't spend so much time reading, but he had little else to do in the last few days.

The sound of a rocking chair moving in the corner and the soft clack of knitting needles were only just masked by the humming of the Karl sized girl who was drawing on a large slate board with some coloured chalk they had brought for her. His father had noticed how Mrogan enjoyed it the last time they were here and made sure they brought some of the thick sticks of chalk with them.

He looked up from the book, trying to make sense of what he had just read. He would admit he knew little about real transfiguration. Not like Sirius or Harry. Daphne and Astoria were taking to the lessons like no one else, but they were still far behind the two wizards that had come crashing into their lives last summer.

Thinking of that, he knew he was envious of the younger boy, but at the same time, Karl knew he would never match the boy's power. As any wizard could tell, Harry was already as powerful as Sirius and most likely would be like the legends of old. The fact he had a familiar as powerful as Rexy spoke of his power.

He was thinking of his other reason to be jealous of Harry in the form of the blonde girl that was always at his side when the door opened.

The storms of the last week had finally broken late yesterday. It was a bright sunny day, but the nearly five feet of snow wasn't easy to get through. Hagrid had been taking care of the sheep while his father had gone into talk with the gurg. The tall form of the friendly half-giant came in.

"Shake the snow off your boots," Aurelie scolded the man.

"I'm not staying. You feel up to a trip, Karl?" Hagrid asked.

Karl gently shut the book. It was old enough he didn't want to damage it. "Did the shaman say I could?" She was scary enough to make him listen to her.

"Your dad said you are needed. We are heading up the valley. Aurelie, we'll be gone for a few days," Hagrid told her. "Do you need me to trade with the goblins for anything?" He removed his boots and started to move around to pack a bag. Karl got up and moved to make sure his pack was good.

As he took his gun to ensure it was clear, then load in an extra round, Hagrid moved to the table. "The rangers were able to go back to the clearing. They found your wand," Hagrid said, putting it on the table.

Karl grabbed it quickly. He felt the warmth run down his arm and into the aged wood. He hadn't realized that he hadn't really felt less than whole until now. He put it into his holster.

Aurelie was whispering to Hagrid as Mrogan was clutching his leg. Karl smiled. He could remember Astoria doing the same to their papa.

He got his snowshoes on before going out the door. "Where is my papa?"

"He is with the others. We are going to the goblins," Hagrid told him.

Karl rose his brow. He had heard the half-giants talking about them but hadn't realized they would get to meet them. Going over what his father had told him and what he had read in their family book, they were not the friendliest of peoples. Just in case though, Sirius and Harry had given them three goblin made blades. Two were daggers too small to do much with unless you knew how to throw them. That was one they had given to the sages. The other was a short sword that was only to be offered to the goblins if they could meet them.

Pulling the straps tight, he followed Hagrid to join his father. He could see how the valley curved to the south a few miles down but didn't know how far away the goblins were. "How long to get to them?"

"We are meeting the group at the wall. The trolls are riled after what happened last week. It may not be easy to get there, but the shamans say the snows should hold off for a week," Hagrid told him.

By the time they made it to the village, his leg was sore, but he was not going to show it.

Papa saw it though. A dozen of the warriors and a half-dozen of the large graphorns were waiting for them. His papa came up to him and spoke to him in their home tongue. "Are you up to this trip?"

"I will be alright, papa," Karl told him.

His father gave him a discerning look before nodding. "The sages aren't going to give us anything else. The gurg is willing to work with us. They want to get access to Hogwarts and Durmstrang as they know how to work with dragons. Apparently, they bred them for years, but the trolls killed them all off. Are you sure you can make this? It will be a good day-and-a-half hike and we will need to be quick to make camp tonight as we are starting so late in the morning."

"I can make it, papa. Can they really tame dragons?" Karl asked surprised.

"They say they can. They have tamed graphorns. I have no doubt they could tame dragons."

"If the sages won't help, what can the goblins do?"

"The gurg says that they have old knowledge and access to old vaults. We may be able to negotiate with them to get access to it," his papa told him.

"Do you think they know about the vanishing cabinets or those portkey things?" Karl questioned.

"I don't know, but it is worth a try. I don't want to see anything happen to our family. We know what the church could do, and the goblins were known to be the only ones to construct the wards that protect the preserves," his father replied.

Karl nodded.

"How much ammunition do you have left?" his father enquired.

"Forty-three rounds," he said.

"I have fifty-two. Take this," his father said, handing him an extra five-shot magazine.

"Papa, you keep it. I have my wand."

"You are a better shot when we are on the move. I will use the sword, if necessary," his papa told him.

Karl took the magazine and put it into the last open slot he had on his shoulder strap. He had lost two in that fight. That gave him four before he would have to reload them or use single shots.

The biggest half-giant, standing nearly fourteen feet, turned to them. "Travel in pairs. Do not travel single file. It will make for easier targets. Grung, you and Sabasten will take lead. Hagrid, you are lead of our friends," the big man said. Hagrid whistled and three other graphorns came to his side. Two stayed with their owners.

"Alain and Karl, you are to stay in the centre with the crossbows. We are not expecting any issues, but if you see them, wait until they attack. We must make the Mound by nightfall."

The big man nodded his head and two started the trek further up the valley. Karl and his papa fell in next to Hagrid. Rose nuzzled him before running ahead with the other graphorns. "Stay close. Our outpost at the Mound was attacked a fortnight ago. This time of year, the trolls attack often, looking for food. Aurelie and Mrogan are going to take the flock to the village for the next few days," Hagrid told them.

Karl looked to his papa, who just moved his gun into an easy position to use. Karl did the same.

-oOo-

Next time on The Magic of Amber: Goblins, Trolls and Hunters… oh my!

-oOo-

A/N: For the fans, I have found my muse again. I am hoping it lasts for the last of what I have planned. I will post as often as I can. Life is just busy at the moment.